Australia / PhDs Graduates struggle to find employment in their field

A report into the job prospects of Australian PhD students has found that many struggle to find employment in their field when they graduate. The students say they get stuck in the middle of being too highly educated for some jobs, but not experienced enough for senior research roles.

Transcript (Audio Podcast)

TONY EASTLEY: A report into the job prospects of Australian PhD graduates has found that many struggle to find employment in their specialist fields.

The students say they’re either too qualified for some jobs or lack work experience for more senior research roles.

Here’s Will Ockenden.

WILL OCKENDEN: Dr Amy Winnard got her PhD on the eastern barred bandicoot from the University of Melbourne in 2010.

AMY WINNARD: There are no full time jobs in Zoology. At best you can get a contract.

WILL OCKENDEN: Apart from a few short contracts, she’s yet to get a full time permanent job working the area of her expertise.

AMY WINNARD: The only way you can get in is by who you know and not by applying for jobs – well, the very few jobs that are being advertised.

Choosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor from

via PhD students struggle to find jobs: report – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).