Doctoral graduates worldwide have been increasing steadily, with significant growth in countries like China and India. However, while the number of PhD holders doubles, job openings in academia remain limited, leaving many graduates unprepared for non-academic careers. Authorities, such as Cláudia Sarrico, emphasize the need for doctoral education to be more meaningful and aligned with societal needs. China's PhD enrollment surged from 300,000 in 2013 to over 600,000 in 2023, reflecting a broader trend of rising expectations regarding higher education's economic benefits.
"We need to make doctoral education more meaningful, more sustainable and better aligned with the diverse societal and labour-market needs," says Cláudia Sarrico, the Secretary of State for Higher Education in Portugal.
The number of new doctorate holders almost doubled between 1998 and 2017, and has continued to increase in the years since.
In China, the number of doctoral students has doubled - from around 300,000 in 2013 to more than 600,000 students enrolled in PhD programmes in 2023.
The number of jobs in academia has not kept pace with the growth in PhD holders, leading many graduates to an uncertain future.
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