The Expansion of Postgraduate Degrees and Its Labor Market Consequences in East Asia

Abstract

<p>Higher education in East Asia has made notable progress in student enrolment, knowledge production, and global rankings in the last three decades. Postgraduate education has been part of this rapid expansion, particularly at the Master’s level. Although the expansion in postgraduate degrees has primarily been driven by efforts to accelerate national economic development, it is also associated with intense competition in the labor market among university graduates. This chapter examines the expansion of postgraduate education in East Asia, particularly at the Master’s level, and its implications for the labor market. It consists of four parts. First, the growth of Master’s degrees is explained from sociological perspectives, namely, positional consensus and positional conflict theories. Second, the expansion of Master’s degrees in selected higher education systems in East Asia (including China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan) is illustrated. The sociocultural environments that encourage public and private investment in advanced degrees are briefly discussed. Third, potential implications for the labor market are projected, such as a (mis)match between Master’s education and the world of work in terms of skills, identities, and qualifications. Fourth, the discussion regarding labor market implications is broadened to address the future of work for higher education degree holders and issues such as globalization, the threat from automation to job opportunities, and the rise of new business models.<br></p>