Japan Doctoral Human Resource Profiling

What is Japan Doctoral Human Resource Profiling?

In Japan, approximately 15,000 people complete a doctoral program every year. However, compared to other developed countries, it is difficult for Japanese graduates to maintain careers that make the most of their expertise.

The National Institute of Science and Technology Policy (NISTEP) has been conducting the Japan Doctoral Human Resource Profiling project since 2014, with the aim of improving research and employment environments for doctoral graduates and gathering evidence to realize objectively- grounded policy formation.

Doctoral Graduates

Currently, follow-up surveys are conducted every three years for the above three cohorts:

  • “2012 Doctoral Graduates” (2012 Cohort)
  • “2015 Doctoral Graduates” (2015 Cohort)
  • “2018 Doctoral Graduates” (2018 Cohort)

The target population for the survey is everyone who completed a doctoral program in the designated survey year, including the graduates who completed coursework without receiving a degree.

Survey Methods

Survey Methods

For the initial survey, the university at which a doctoral program was completed will send a letter of response request to eligible individuals by email or mail
These individuals will be asked to respond by logging in to the designated website, the information for which will be provided in the letter.

Doctoral Students Today

Where do they work at? How many students go on to doctoral programs? Are they satisfied with their work and research environment? What kind of person gets a Ph. D?
Trends in Doctoral Program Enrollment in Japan and Percentages of Working Adults and Women

Trends in Doctoral Program Enrollment in Japan and Percentages of Working Adults and Women

The percentage of working adult students enrolled in doctoral programs has exceeded 40% since 2016, and an increasing number of students are pursuing doctoral degrees while still employed. Meanwhile, the percentage of female students has remained at around 30% for the past decade.

Employers of Doctoral Graduates (2018 Cohort)

Employers of Doctoral Graduates (2018 Cohort)

After completing their doctoral programs, around half of the respondents were employed by universities, and about a quarter were employed by companies. By contrast, higher percentages of engineering (46.1%) and science (36.0%) graduates were employed by companies. While nearly 70% (66.6%) of humanities majors were employed by universities, a high percentage of them were in part-time, temporary, or other unstable positions with limited terms (for details, see “9. Employment Status” on p. 32 of the Fourth Report).

Percentage of annual income by gender (2018 cohort)

Percentage of annual income by gender (2018 cohort)

Looking at the annual income of 2018 doctoral graduates by gender, the highest percentage of men reported an annual income of 4–5 million yen, while the highest percentage of women reported an annual income of 3–4 million yen. In addition, nearly 20% of all male respondents had incomes of over 10 million yen, while only about 5% of female respondents had incomes of over 10 million yen, indicating that there are differences in employment status and wages between men and women (for details, see “11. Income Status” on p. 40 of the Fourth Report).

FAQ.　Frequently Asked Questions about the Japan Doctoral Human Resource Profiling Survey

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  1. Purpose of the Survey
  2. Target Population
  3. Implementation Method
  4. Response Method
  5. Personal Information Management
  6. Survey Results

  1. Q1What is Japan Doctoral Human Resource Profiling (JD-Pro)?

    A1
    It is a survey conducted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT)’s National Institute of Science and Technology Policy (NISTEP) to continuously track doctoral graduates’ experiences of their doctoral programs, employment status and attitudes, studies, and living conditions, among others.

  2. Q2What is the purpose of this survey?

    A2
    In Japan, around 15,000 people complete a doctoral program in graduate school each year. However, compared to other developed countries, there are limited employment opportunities, and it is difficult for graduates to develop careers that make the most of their expertise. Aiming to improve this situation, the National Institute of Science and Technology Policy (NISTSP) has been conducting the Japan Doctoral Human Resource Profiling project to gather evidence upon which to build objectively- grounded policy. By building an information base that continuously tracks doctoral graduates’ experiences during their doctoral courses, their employment status, career consciousness, studies, living conditions, and so on, we can formulate various policies—with the aims, for instance, of improving the doctoral career environment, improving the research system for the promotion of science and technology, and enhancing doctoral programs in graduate schools—or conduct research that contributes to such policies.

  3. Q3Why the follow-up survey?

    A3
    Doctoral students have diverse backgrounds, and their timing in obtaining their doctoral degrees differs; therefore, the timing of their employment also varies. Because the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s School Basic Survey is a compilation of information provided by universities, the survey cannot fully track individuals’ career paths. Furthermore, while most doctoral graduates are employed in research positions, it is common for their employment status to change gradually, from limited-term employment to tenure-track, even though they have the same positions. By surveying individuals on a follow-up basis, we can accurately track such changes in their employment status and career paths. Additionally, by tracking the same individuals, it is possible to perform reliable analyses of the relationship between doctoral experience and employment status, between research funding allocation and dissertation performance, and between career path and life events, after considering inherent individual differences.

  1. Q1What is the target population for this survey?

    A1
    All graduates who completed a doctoral program at a Japanese national, public, or private university that offers doctoral courses in each survey year are eligible. Doctoral students who completed coursework without obtaining a degree are also eligible. In addition to Japanese students, international students and working adult students who completed doctoral courses are also included.

  2. Q2Why was I selected?

    A2
    This survey is administered for all graduates who have completed a doctoral program in Japan. Therefore, we do not select any particular individuals.

  3. Q3Do I have to participate in the survey?

    A3
    The career paths of doctoral graduates remain unclear, and the data from this survey are indispensable to understanding the current situation and issues, as well as to discussing and planning data-based policies. Although participation is voluntary, we would greatly appreciate your cooperation, as this survey can lead to better policies for improving the career development of doctoral graduates. Please note that while basic personal attributes are required items, you may choose to skip other items if you are not comfortable responding.

  4. Q4Do I have to participate in the survey every year from now on?

    A4
    In addition to the survey administered after the completion of a doctoral program, we plan to conduct 3.5-year and 6.5-year post-completion surveys to track changes in career paths in the early stages following completion of the doctoral program. Therefore, the survey will be conducted almost once every three years. The results of each survey will be provided upon request. We ask kindly that you participate.

  5. Q5I am not Japanese, and I do not live in Japan. Am I eligible for the survey?

    A5
    You are eligible for the survey regardless of your nationality or current place of residence, as long as you have completed a doctoral program at a Japanese university in one of the survey years.

  6. Q6I have not obtained a doctoral degree yet. Am I eligible for the survey?

    A6
    You are eligible for the survey if you have completed a doctoral program in the survey year, regardless of your doctoral degree status. Graduates who completed coursework (without degree) are also eligible for the survey.

  1. Q1Who is conducting the Japan Doctoral Human Resource Profiling project?

    A1
    This survey is planned, designed, and conducted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)’s National Institute of Science and Technology Policy (NISTEP), while some of the work is outsourced to a research company. The “Third Guidelines on Measures for the Promotion of Graduate School Education” (approved by the minister of MEXT on March 31, 2018) stipulates that “NISTEP shall conduct the Japan Doctoral Human Resource Profiling project.”

  2. Q2How is the survey being conducted?

    A2
    The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and the National Institute of Science and Technology Policy (NISTEP) ask universities to cooperate on the Japan Doctoral Human Resource Profiling project, and the universities send emails requesting a response from target individuals. Please log in to the website indicated in the email and respond to the survey. Since universities may not have contact information for target individuals, academic societies and other organizations are also asked to inform eligible individuals of this survey. If you receive two or more survey requests, please respond only once.

  1. Q1Do I have to respond to all the questions?

    A1
    Except for the “required items,” you can leave any field blank and skip to the next question. However, we would appreciate that you consider the purpose of the survey and respond to as many questions as possible to make the survey meaningful. Your responses will be processed statistically, so you will not be identified.

  2. Q2I don’t like online surveys or responding to them on the Internet. Is there any other way to respond?

    A2
    You can respond by filling out and returning the paper version of the survey, which we will send to you by mail.

  3. Q3I have physical disabilities that prevent me from responding to this survey. What should I do?

    A3
    We will consider multiple alternatives to accommodate you.

  1. Q1Isn’t an individual identified if you respond with your specialization, gender, and the like?

    A1
    Your responses will be statistically processed, and any information that could identify you will not be disclosed. The content of each response will be kept strictly confidential and will not be disclosed to outside parties.

  2. Q2Will the university know the contents of my responses?

    A2
    Your responses and personal information will not be provided to the university at which you completed your doctoral program. Your responses will be single-handedly collected and processed as statistical data by the secretariat without going through the university. However, upon request, we may provide individual universities with aggregate information that does not identify individuals.

  3. Q3How is personal information handled?

    A3
    The handling of personal information is as follows:
    1. (1) Purpose of use
      The personal information provided by respondents to the Japan Doctoral Human Resource Profiling project (hereafter referred to as “personal information”) will be used for the following purposes:
      1. Tracking of doctoral graduates’ careers
      2. Surveys, analysis, and academic research on the status of doctoral graduates’ research activities, occupations, etc.
      3. Compilation of statistics on the status of doctoral graduates’ research activities, occupations, etc.
      4. Policymaking for doctoral graduates to make the most of their expertise
      5. Correspondence and communication regarding various surveys, requests, and information provision associated with i. to iv.
      * The collected data will be processed statistically, and no personally identifiable information will be disclosed.
    2. (2) Security measures
      MEXT shall handle personal information in accordance with the Act on the Protection of Personal Information Held by Administrative Organizations and other related laws and regulations, and will take necessary measures to prevent leakage, loss, or damage of personal information and to otherwise manage personal information appropriately.

  1. Q1I would like to know the results of the survey.

    A1
    The survey results will be compiled into a report and published on the NISTEP website, but those who participated in the survey will be provided with the report directly.

  2. Q2If there is a change in address, contact information, or email address, will it affect the next survey?

    A2
    We will contact you about once a year, before the next survey, to confirm your email and/or mailing addresses. Additionally, you can contact NISTEP directly to inform us of changes in your contact information.
    To do so, please send an email to (jd-pro@nistep.go.jp).

Case Study Report

CASE01 Graduate students continuing their research in science and engineering at universities with a high share of scientific papers

These students are mostly in the natural sciences, mainly science and agriculture, and are employed as post-doctoral fellows through competitive research funding or as assistant professors. About 80% of them are employed on a limited-term basis, with the majority of them having a short term of three years or less. Although they have incomes of about 3–5 million yen for full-time employment and find the research, per se, rewarding and satisfying, their future prospects are uncertain due to insufficient tenure positions.

CASE02 Doctoral graduates employed in non-academia

Most of the doctoral graduates employed in the private sector are working full-time in research positions at large companies. Their job satisfaction is high, and the compensation is remarkably stable and satisfying. However, positions are limited for researchers.

CASE03 Diverse working-adult doctoral students

The needs of working adults are truly diverse. There are graduate students who go on to higher education as physicians as a matter of course, and there is also a certain number of working adults who come from companies to pursue doctoral degrees. Some of them need degrees for their work or in order to foster better relationships with overseas researchers, and others intend to organize what they usually do at work into dissertations.

CASE04 Graduate students in the humanities and social sciences

As is the norm in their field, these students tend to take longer to obtain their degrees. They are not too unhappy about preparing their dissertations while working as adjunct instructors or researchers. This is more likely the case for those in the humanities, where it takes a long time to earn a degree and income levels are lower. In graduate school, students are mainly supervised by a faculty advisor, but their supervision is infrequent.

CASE05 International Students

Many come to Japan by obtaining fellowships or tuition waivers. They come to Japan to become university faculty members or to earn higher incomes, but about half of them return to their home countries after receiving their degrees. Gaining employment in Japan is more difficult for them than for Japanese students.

CASE06 Female Researchers

Women account for about 30% of doctoral graduates, and they are more likely than men to go into academia. In non-academic employment, they are less likely to be full-time employees. The relationship between life events and career development in full-time jobs needs to be examined in detail through the construction of follow-up data.

Results and Reports

The Japan Doctoral Human Resource Profiling project is conducted to understand the status of doctoral graduates’ careers and to formulate policies that will contribute to the improvement of the graduate employment situation.
We would greatly appreciate your cooperation if you, as a doctoral graduate, become a participant in the survey.

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