The Labor Market for New Ph.D. Economists

Presents results from a survey of 450 new (1996-97) Ph.D. economists, providing information about employment, underemployment, employers, work activities, salaries, and job satisfaction. Comparisons are made across ranks of the graduates' Ph.D. programs, sectors of employment and subfields of economics, as well as over time. Labor market outcomes for economists also are compared with those of seven other disciplines. Results indicate that a growing proportion of new economics Ph.D.s start their careers in business or industry, that an international market for new economics Ph.D.s is evolving, and that job outcomes for economists compare favorably with new Ph.D.s in many other disciplines.