Doctorate holders successful on the labour market

Currently, more than 1 million people in the Netherlands hold a university degree. Nearly 70 thousand had a doctorate in the period 2004-2007. The vast majority (nearly 50 thousand) are native Dutch men. One in six have a Western foreign background.

Holders of doctoral degrees appear to be successful on the labour market. Nearly three quarters work in paid jobs. They often work full-time because the category of doctorate holders is dominated by men. More than 80 percent of them work at the highest professional level, as opposed to just over half of master’s degree holders. Proportionally, holders of doctoral degrees are active in only a limited number of professions: doctor, dentist, medical specialist, fully qualified teacher or lecturer or in high-level executive positions in education.

Doctorate and master’s degree holders by background, 2004-2007