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Published: 22 April 2010

Nearly every second of those with doctorate level degrees work in the sector of education

In 2007, 44 per cent of those having completed doctorate level degrees worked in the sector of education. Three fourths of them were working at universities. Health care was the second biggest employer with a 16 per cent share. Nearly one tenth of those with doctorate level degrees were working in manufacturing.

Highly educated employees by economic activity and completed degree in 2007

Industry Tertiary degree
Highly educated total (%) Doctorate level degree (%) Higher-degree level (%) Other tertiary degrees (%)
Industries, total 100,0 100,0 100,0 100,0
Agriculture, forestry and fishery 2,0 0,4 0,9 2,5
Manufacturing and mining and quarrying 14,3 8,0 13,3 15,0
Electricity, gas and water supply 0,8 0,2 0,6 0,9
Construction 3,0 0,2 0,8 4,0
Trade 10,5 1,7 4,9 13,0
Transport, communications 3,1 0,3 1,4 4,0
Telecommunications 0,9 0,2 0,7 1,0
Financial and insurance intermediatio 3,3 0,9 3,2 3,5
Computer and related activities 3,4 1,6 4,3 3,1
Business services 11,3 5,3 11,5 11,5
Research activities 1,3 9,8 2,2 0,6
Education 13,9 43,6 28,3 6,9
Human health activities 18,5 16,1 11,8 21,3
Public administration 8,3 7,9 9,8 7,7
Other industries/unknown 5,3 3,7 6,3 5,0

Twenty-three per cent of those with doctorate level degrees earned their living at management tasks and 71 per cent at various specialist tasks. The popularity of management tasks has grown steadily, because seven years ago nearly one fifth of those with doctorate level degrees were working in management and three fourths at specialist tasks. Management tasks attracted those with licentiate degrees slightly more than doctorate degree holders.

The number of doctorate and licentiate degrees passed by women has been growing steadily. In the early 1990s one third of those with doctorate level degrees were women. Now more than every second of them is a woman. Women have increased their share in other tertiary level qualifications, too. Twenty years ago men and women had an equal share among those with highest level tertiary degrees. Now more than six in ten are women.

Highly educated population find employment clearly better than the rest of the population. In 2007, 39,000 highly educated people were unemployed, which corresponds to an unemployment rate of 4.3 per cent. At the same time the unemployment rate of total population was 6.9 per cent. There are also differences between highly educated groups. The unemployment rate is the lowest among doctors, that is, 2.3 per cent and the highest among those with the lowest level tertiary qualifications, 5.1 per cent.

Population with a tertiary degree by principal activity in 2007

Tertiary degree Field of science Principal activity and unemployment rate (%)
In labour force Employed Unemployed Unemployment rate (%)
Doctorate Fields of science total 18 472 18 047 425 2,3
Natural sciences 4 053 3 913 140 3,5
Engineering and technology 2 916 2 879 37 1,3
Medical and health sciences 5 389 5 340 49 0,9
Agricultural sciences 673 651 22 3,3
Social sciences 3 640 3 532 108 3,0
Humanities 1 801 1 732 69 3,8
Licentiate Fields of science total 7 263 6 950 313 4,3
Natural sciences 1 387 1 319 68 4,9
Engineering and technology 2 039 1 973 66 3,2
Medical and health sciences 203 200 3 1,5
Agricultural sciences 119 111 8 6,7
Social sciences 2 411 2 332 79 3,3
Humanities 1 104 1 015 89 8,1
Higher degree level Fields of science total 250 309 241 601 8 708 3,5
Natural sciences 26 195 24 981 1 214 4,6
Engineering and technology 44 970 43 664 1 306 2,9
Medical and health sciences 25 976 25 727 249 1,0
Agricultural sciences 6 887 6 628 259 3,8
Social sciences 105 788 102 514 3 274 3,1
Humanities 40 493 38 087 2 406 5,9
Other tertiary degrees Fields of science undefined 632 052 602 502 29 550 4,7

Source: Human resources of science and technology 2007. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Marianne Kaplas (09) 1734 3421, tiede.teknologia@stat.fi

Director in charge: Leena Storgårds

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Updated 22.04.2010

Referencing instructions:

Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Human resources of science and technology [e-publication].
ISSN=1797-3244. 2008. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 29.3.2024].
Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/tthv/2008/tthv_2008_2010-04-22_tie_001_en.html