Economics PhDs

From the NSF report on the Survey of Earned Doctorates, which covers PhDs awarded in the US, for the 2007-08 academic year:

• Number of econ PhD recipients: 1091
• Percent female: 34.3%
• Percent US citizen/permanent resident: 34.9%
• Percent with bachelor's degree in econ: 56.1%
• Median age at doctorate: 31
• Median time to doctorate (from grad school start): 6.9 years

Of the 954 who responded to the question on their postgraduation status, 81 had definite plans for postgraduate study, 680 had definite employment and 168 were seeking employment or study (and 25 were 'other').

Of those reporting definite employment, 59.3% were headed to academe, 12.5% to government, 18.1% to business, 5.7% to nonprofits and 4.4% to other. Most (74.3%) of the jobs were in the US.

That's all in table 38, "Statistical profile of doctorate recipients in science fields, by sex and field of study: 2008." Nice to know the NSF considers us scientists!

The report came to my attention via Bruce Bartlett, who has some of the overall numbers.

Meanwhile, the next crop of soon-to-be Econ PhDs are in the midst of job market season, staring at their phones, waiting for calls for interviews at the meetings in Atlanta in January. They should read Brad DeLong's summary of what those interviews will be like.