Not all that glitters is gold: precariousness and overqualification in PhD holders’ labour market

Abstract

 PhD holders are considered key stakeholders in the current knowledge-based economy due to their highly specialized knowledge and their strategic competencies. This background is crucial to facilitate knowledge transfer processes across organizations in innovation systems. Nevertheless, several studies have raised the alarm about the increasing difficulties experienced by some PhDs to access to permanent positions fitting with their qualification level and salary expectations. 

This study aims to describe the Spanish labour market for PhD holders in order to assess the extent of precariousness and overqualification in each knowledge field. This study analyses data extracted from the «Survey on the Labour Insertion of University Graduates», conducted by the National Statistics Institute in 2019. 

The results show that the PhD degree does not protect PhD holders against job insecurity, in particular in science disciplines. In addition to this, this degree does not necessarily give access to a qualified job.