Factors influencing career trajectories of PhD students and graduates in greater China : focusing on the role of labour market conditions

Abstract

Globally, there is a growing disconnect between the increasing number of PhD students and graduates and the decrease in available academic positions. While previous studies have established that the doctoral labour market functions as the most salient structural factor that influences PhD graduates’ employment, they focused heavily on the supply side, namely factors related to the doctoral programme, and primarily examined the Western European and North American context. This thesis seeks to enhance our understanding of how labour market conditions influence the career trajectories of PhD students. The thesis incorporates the dynamics in career development at various stages of their doctoral studies and highlights the progressive and changing nature of careers. The research is based on a narrative inquiry approach, involving 165 interviews (117 with PhD students and 48 with PhD graduates). The thesis consists of seven interconnected studies, with each study utilizing between 21 and 94 interviews, and employing different conceptual frameworks to guide the analysis. The findings demonstrate that labour market conditions have a significant impact on the entire career journey of PhD students, including their decision to pursue a doctoral degree, career preparation during their studies, career decision-making, and transition into the workforce. Specifically, labour market conditions inform students’ motivation to pursue a PhD by providing insights into job prospects. As the academic job market becomes more challenging, there have been changes in the demographics of PhD students, particularly in terms of their pre-doctoral training and work experiences. This shift largely leads to changes in motivation for PhD pursuit, making most students motivated by either the accumulation of career advantages or by the search for personal growth. Academic employers play a role in shaping aspiring academics’ career trajectories by creating career scripts for academic professions, guiding students to align their career preparation with these perceived and validated paths. The pressure to excel in research during the doctoral journey and to get the degree sooner has become a characteristic of the academic career script, adding significant stress for aspiring academics. Perceptions of unfavourable academic working conditions often discourage PhD students from pursuing an academic career. Yet, the extent varies among individuals with different social backgrounds and career motivations—they have different horizons for action and perception of person-organisation fit in career decision-making. When transitioning into the workforce, PhD graduates often encounter structural constraints outside of academia. However, individual agency and their researcher-selves developed during the doctoral programme help overcome these barriers, albeit to varying degrees depending on one's commitment to a non-research career. While the decision to pursue an academic career continues to be largely personal and driven by passion for scientific research and peer recognition, it is essential to ensure monetary stability and favourable working conditions for academics to engage in creative, reflective, and impactful activities. Moreover, higher education institutions should recognise the risks associated with a publication-focused culture and ageism, as these factors can negatively impact the academic community.