Study title

Doctoral Graduates of Year 2017: Career and Employment Survey 2020

Dataset ID Number

FSD3554

Persistent identifier

urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3554

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

• Aarresaari network of the Academic Career Services in Finland
• Tampere University. Tilastotieteen tutkimuspalvelu TUPA [Statistical research service TUPA]

Abstract

The survey charted the careers and employment situations of Finnish doctoral graduates three years after they had obtained their degree in 2017. Themes of the survey included impact of a doctoral degree on employment, usefulness of doctoral education in terms of skills needed in occupational life, and job satisfaction.

The respondents were first asked what their occupational status was at the time of the survey and what it had been 6 months before starting the degree and 6 months after finishing it. Questions covered whether having a doctoral degree had led to an increased salary and better standing in occupational life, whether a doctoral degree had been a prerequisite for the respondents' current job, and what their gross monthly income was at present. The respondents were also asked if they had been unemployed after finishing their degree. Further questions covered how important certain skills and know-how were in the respondents' current job and how well their doctoral studies had developed these skills (e.g. theoretical or practical knowledge of their field, problem solving, managerial skills, negotiation skills, project management, and scientific communication).

Opinions were charted on the significance of doctoral and other tertiary education, work experience, contacts and networks, and other skills in occupational life. The respondents were asked how they had financed their doctoral studies (e.g. by being employed by a university or other research institute or with a personal research grant). Finally, it was surveyed whether the respondents had completed their doctoral degree by studying full-time, part-time or during their leisure time while also otherwise employed. The 2020 survey also included a question on how the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic had affected the respondents' employment situation.

Background variables included the respondent's gender, field of study, and age at the time of graduation (dichotomised 35 or under/36 and over).

Keywords

appointment to job; career development; educational certificates; employment; employment opportunities; higher education institutions; job satisfaction; post-graduates; tertiary education (second stage)

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Higher and further education (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Employment (CESSDA Topic Classification)

Series

Career and Employment Survey of Finnish University Graduates

Distributor

Finnish Social Science Data Archive

Access

The dataset is (C) available only for research including master's theses.

Data Collector

• Aarresaari network of the Academic Career Services in Finland
• Tampere University. Tilastotieteen tutkimuspalvelu TUPA [Statistical research service TUPA]

Time Period Covered

2017 – 2020

Collection Dates

2020-10 – 2020-12

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Individual

Universe

Doctoral graduates from Finnish universities in 2017 (excluding National Defence University)

Time Method

Longitudinal: Trend/Repeated cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Total universe/Complete enumeration

The survey was sent to all graduates whose contact information was available. The graduates were approached by SMS, post or email.

Collection Mode

Self-administered questionnaire: Web-based (CAWI)

Self-administered questionnaire: Paper

Research Instrument

Structured questionnaire

Response Rate

49.6

Data File Language

Downloaded data package may contain different language versions of the same files.

The data files of this dataset are available in the following languages: English and Finnish.

FSD translates quantitative data into English on request, free of charge. More information on ordering data translation.

Number of Cases and Variables

125 variables and 867 cases.

Data Version

1.0

Completeness of Data and Restrictions

To anonymise the data, the researcher removed the following variables: q5 name of principal employer and q6 job title. Variables bv3 denoting respondent's age, q11 denoting income and bv8 denoting field of education were categorised at FSD. Additionally, all open-ended responses were removed.

Weighting

There are no weight variables in the data.

Citation Requirement

The data and its creators shall be cited in all publications and presentations for which the data have been used. The bibliographic citation may be in the form suggested by the archive or in the form required by the publication.

Bibliographical Citation

Aarresaari network of the Academic Career Services in Finland & Tampere University: Doctoral Graduates of Year 2017: Career and Employment Survey 2020 [dataset]. Version 1.0 (2022-06-29). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3554

Deposit Requirement

Notify FSD of all publications where you have used the data by sending the citation information to user-services.fsd@tuni.fi.

Disclaimer

The original data creators and the archive bear no responsibility for any results or interpretations arising from the reuse of the data.

Related Materials

Tynjälä, P., Rautopuro, J., Aittola, H., Jääskelä, P., Markkanen, I., Virolainen, M., & Virtanen, A. (2021) Tutkinto takana: yliopistojen kandipalautekyselyn sekä maisterien ja tohtorien uraseurantakyselyjen 2018, 2019 ja 2020 tulokset.

FSD has not been informed of any publications related to the data.