What do PhDs do? - Trends

Patterns of employment have, broadly speaking, remained fairly consistent over the 2003-2005 period. Unemployment rates are low for doctoral researchers, compared to other degrees; around half those graduating work in the education sector; one third work in research roles; and around a fifth are employed as postdoctoral researchers in Higher Education.

However, the overall pattern of consistency can mask larger variations at discipline group level. To get into the details:

What do PhDs do ? – Trends, Commentary on 2004-2006 surveys of PhD graduates: key changes and first destination trends, UK GRAD Programme, Careers Research and Advisory Center, 2007.