What do researchers do? Labour market information

These profiles examine the main industries where doctoral graduates work. In total the 15 main sectors where doctoral graduates are employed are highlighted.

Each sector profile provides information on:

• the current state of the industry (using the most recent research from the Sector Skills Councils and similar bodies)
• future projected trends, in particular those that may affect doctoral graduates and areas of development and research
• the roles that doctoral graduates have taken up in each sector in recent years
• useful resources, including key employers within the sector, news feeds and job search links.

'What do researchers do? Labour market information' presents a wide range of information about the career destinations of researchers. However, for most people this information only starts to become truly relevant when they relate it to their own life and career and use it to aid decision making and taking action for career development.

The information in this web section can be used to examine the many options that are available to doctoral graduates and to assist with career decision making.  They provide an illustration (but not a definitive study) of professions and employment sectors for doctoral graduates.

The following pages explore how researchers can use labour market information in their career development and outlines:

• A summary of the doctoral labour market (August 2011)
• Types of labour market information
• Finding useful LMI information
• Using LMI information to make career decisions

This section will provide researchers with information about occupations that they may be interested in working in. Occupations are categorised into sub-sections based on the six 'What do Researchers Do?' occupational clusters. These six clusters consist of groupings of similar occupations and this typology is exclusive to doctoral graduates

Within each of these clusters, a series of common doctoral graduate occupational profiles will be presented.

In total 60 full occupational profiles which are most common for doctoral graduates are listed.

This section highlights the career paths and destinations which researchers from different disciplines have followed, as well as providing discipline-specific labour market information.

Links are provided for doctoral graduates within five broad disciplinary groups, as well as by individual subjects. 

• Arts and humanities
• Biological sciences
• Biomedical sciences
• Physical sciences and engineering
  
• Social sciences
  

In whichever career you decide to pursue, the Vitae Researcher Development Framework enables you to identify the strengths you already have and prioritise for personal and career development in the context of future career opportunities.

The Researcher Development Framework enables you to consider what skills and experiences will enhance your career prospects and how to articulate your capabilities to future employers.

You can use the Researcher Development Framework and
Professional Development Planner to:

• aid self-reflection and set yourself aspirational goals
• choose the most appropriate formal and informal development
• assess opportunities provided by your institution and look for development opportunities outside of your research
• prepare for one-to-one progress reviews, appraisals and career development conversations 
• consider how your skills and experiences will enhance your career prospects
• highlight, articulate and evidence the transferability of your skills in your CV, in job applications and at interviews.

You may find it inspirational to read some profiles of researchers who have used the RDF.

If you have any comments or queries relating to the What do researchers do? Labour market information web pages please contact website@vitae.ac.uk