The ESRC has published a report setting out the findings of a review to evaluate the needs of non-academic employers for highly skilledsocial scientists, and the extent to which social science PhD-holders in such employment are using the skills and knowledge developed during their doctorate.
The sustained development of a highly skilled workforce is essential to underpinning the quality of social scientific research in the UK. Whilst the majority of social science PhD holders continue to pursue a career in research, many social science researchers develop careers beyond academia and make important contributions to the UK research base in other sectors both within and beyond the UK research base in other sectors such as public administration and defence; heath and social work; manufacturing and education.
Commissioned as the companion study to the Demographic Review of UK Social Sciences this report, entitled The employment of social science PhDs in academic and non-academic jobs: research skills and postgraduate training, provides clear evidence of demand across a range of employers for the skills and attributes acquired during a social science PhD. It illustrates that PhD holders are highly employable in a number of sectors.
The review, which was conducted by Kate Purcell, Professor of Employment Studies at University of the West of England, and Peter Elias, Professor of Employment Research at the University of Warwick, underlines the crucial importance of equipping UK social scientists with core research and related professional skills from an early stage in their career.
The report can be downloaded in PDF format from ESRC Society Today.