Unequal opportunities for some graduates concerning their transition to careers in research

Abstract

This study examines the importance of gender and social origin for the transition of university graduates into the first phase of a research career (doctoral program). It also considers whether women and members of lower social classes have better career opportunities in certain fields than in others. The empirical analysis makes use of a panel database that provides information on the education and career paths of Swiss university graduates in all fields of study as of the beginning of the 1990s. The results show that women and people from less educated families are less commonly recruited for research careers than are men and people from university-educated backgrounds. However, the degree of inequality of opportunity is not the same in all fields.