PhD Holders Low Research Activities vs High research

Published

May 29, 2026

1. Sociodemographic Characteristics

Gender (Q9)

Gender identity
Low Research
High research
Category N % N %
Men 289 49.1% 979 60.0%
Women 300 50.9% 653 40.0%
*(Missing)* 10 NA 17 NA
Low Research n = 599 | High research n = 1649

Nationality (Q10)

Nationality (grouped)
Low Research
High research
Category N % N %
Belgian 441 73.6% 966 58.6%
EU 85 14.2% 285 17.3%
Other nationality 73 12.2% 398 24.1%
Low Research n = 599 | High research n = 1649

Children (Q13)

Has children
Low Research
High research
Category N % N %
With Children 307 51.3% 716 43.5%
Without Children 292 48.7% 930 56.5%
*(Missing)* NA NA 3 NA
Low Research n = 599 | High research n = 1649

Year of PhD completion (Q4_2_2)

Year of PhD completion
Low Research
High research
Category N % N %
2012 24 4.0% 46 2.8%
2013 17 2.8% 44 2.7%
2014 30 5.0% 50 3.0%
2015 22 3.7% 49 3.0%
2016 35 5.8% 65 3.9%
2017 31 5.2% 73 4.4%
2018 24 4.0% 76 4.6%
2019 33 5.5% 62 3.8%
2020 17 2.8% 59 3.6%
2021 70 11.7% 176 10.7%
2022 73 12.2% 241 14.6%
2023 93 15.5% 299 18.1%
2024 98 16.4% 298 18.1%
2025 32 5.3% 111 6.7%
Low Research n = 599 | High research n = 1649

PhD field (Q29)

Broad PhD field
Low Research
High research
Category N % N %
Life & Health Sciences 168 28.0% 438 26.6%
Exact & Natural Sciences 215 35.9% 700 42.4%
Social Sciences & Humanities 216 36.1% 511 31.0%
Low Research n = 599 | High research n = 1649

2. Current Employment

Main status (Q85)

Main professional status
Low Research
High research
Category N % N %
Indépendant·e à titre principal (ex : entrepreneur∙e) 51 8.5% 35 2.1%
Employé·e à temps plein (y compris boursier∙e, fonctionnaire, postdoctorant∙e, professeur∙es, etc.) 425 71.0% 1466 88.9%
Employé·e à temps partiel (y compris boursier∙e, fonctionnaire, postdoctorant∙e, professeur∙es, etc.) 97 16.2% 125 7.6%
Stagiaire 2 0.3% 1 0.1%
Autre, veuillez préciser 24 4.0% 22 1.3%
Low Research n = 599 | High research n = 1649

Contract type (Q92)

Type of contract
Low Research
High research
Category N % N %
Contrat à durée indéterminée (CDI) 380 72.8% 817 51.4%
Contrat à durée indéterminée (CDI) conditionné à l’obtention de financements successifs 20 3.8% 101 6.3%
Contrat à durée déterminée (CDD) sans possibilité de renouvellement 21 4.0% 282 17.7%
Contrat d’intérim 14 2.7% 13 0.8%
Contrat à durée déterminée (CDD) avec possibilité de renouvellement limité dans le temps (ex : contrat de 2 ans renouvelable deux fois) 35 6.7% 247 15.5%
Contrat à durée déterminée (CDD) avec possibilité de passage à un contrat permanent pour le même poste 52 10.0% 131 8.2%
*(Missing)* 77 NA 58 NA
Low Research n = 599 | High research n = 1649

Sector (Q87)

Employment sector
Low Research
High research
Category N % N %
Business: industry and production 64 11.1% 194 11.9%
Business: services 92 16.0% 120 7.4%
Education outside of higher education 44 7.7% 17 1.0%
Government/public services 95 16.5% 166 10.2%
Higher education outside university 53 9.2% 29 1.8%
Hospital 71 12.3% 68 4.2%
Other 7 1.2% 6 0.4%
Private non-profit (e.g. NGO) 43 7.5% 54 3.3%
University/Research center 106 18.4% 973 59.8%
*(Missing)* 24 NA 22 NA
Low Research n = 599 | High research n = 1649

Organisation size (Q171)

Organisation size
Low Research
High research
Category N % N %
Micro (1 à 9 personnes employées) 24 4.6% 54 3.4%
Petite (10 à 49 personnes employées) 52 10.0% 141 8.9%
Moyenne (de 50 à 249 personnes employées) 102 19.7% 201 12.7%
Grande (plus de 250 personnes employées) 329 63.4% 1144 72.4%
Je ne sais pas 12 2.3% 41 2.6%
*(Missing)* 80 NA 68 NA
Low Research n = 599 | High research n = 1649

Currently in postdoc (Q83)

Currently in postdoc
Low Research
High research
Category N % N %
Oui 15 2.5% 547 33.2%
Non 584 97.5% 1102 66.8%
Low Research n = 599 | High research n = 1649

Interest in permanent academic position (Q101)

If a permanent position were available, would you be interested?
Low Research
High research
Category N % N %
Oui 214 48.3% 290 47.2%
Non 229 51.7% 325 52.8%
*(Missing)* 156 NA 1034 NA
Low Research n = 599 | High research n = 1649

Reasons for job with low research activities (Q104)

Main reason for being in a job with limited research activities (Q104)
Low Research
High research
Category N % N %
Par contrainte, je n’ai pas trouvé de poste avec plus d’activités de recherche 337 57.2% NA NA
Par choix, je souhaitais un poste comprenant peu d’activités de recherche 252 42.8% NA NA
*(Missing)* 10 NA 1649 NA
Low Research n = 599 | High research n = 1649

3. Secondary Activity

Secondary professional activity (Q180)

Has a secondary professional activity
Low Research
High research
Category N % N %
Oui 161 26.9% 241 14.7%
Non 437 73.1% 1399 85.3%
*(Missing)* 1 NA 9 NA
Low Research n = 599 | High research n = 1649

Type of secondary activity (Q88)

Type of Secondary Activity
Low research
High research
Category N % N %
Secondary Basic Education 10 1.7% 12 0.7%
Secondary Higher Ed Nonuni 20 3.3% 21 1.3%
Secondary Government 4 0.7% 19 1.2%
Secondary Hospital Nonuniv 5 0.8% 4 0.2%
Secondary University Hospital 3 0.5% 2 0.1%
Secondary Industry 1 0.2% 9 0.5%
Secondary Business Services 18 3.0% 47 2.9%
Secondary Nonprofit 11 1.8% 24 1.5%
Secondary University Research 77 12.9% 99 6.0%
Secondary Other 35 5.9% 45 2.7%

4. Job Content & Research Link

Job Content & Research Link
Low research
High research
Category N % N %
Job Related To Research 186 31.7% 0 NA
Job Related To Phd Field 285 47.8% 1238 75.8%
Job Team Management 276 46.9% 929 57.0%
Job Supervise Juniors 219 37.2% 1055 64.8%

5. Involvement in Knowledge-Transfer Activities (Q185)

Involvement: IP creation
Low Research
High research
Category N % N %
Activity not carried 420 82.8% 1028 67.1%
Aucune implication 44 8.7% 145 9.5%
Forte implication (j’initie, je gère et je mène l’activité) 9 1.8% 108 7.1%
Implication partielle (j’y contribue) 34 6.7% 250 16.3%
*(Missing)* 92 NA 118 NA
Low Research n = 599 | High research n = 1649
Involvement: IP commercialisation
Low Research
High research
Category N % N %
Activity not carried 452 88.8% 1260 82.8%
Aucune implication 34 6.7% 137 9.0%
Forte implication (j’initie, je gère et je mène l’activité) 9 1.8% 30 2.0%
Implication partielle (j’y contribue) 14 2.8% 95 6.2%
*(Missing)* 90 NA 127 NA
Low Research n = 599 | High research n = 1649
Involvement: publications
Low Research
High research
Category N % N %
Activity not carried 268 52.4% 207 13.3%
Aucune implication 37 7.2% 40 2.6%
Forte implication (j’initie, je gère et je mène l’activité) 84 16.4% 982 63.0%
Implication partielle (j’y contribue) 122 23.9% 330 21.2%
*(Missing)* 88 NA 90 NA
Low Research n = 599 | High research n = 1649
Involvement: development of new products/services
Low Research
High research
Category N % N %
Activity not carried 347 68.4% 775 50.8%
Aucune implication 29 5.7% 91 6.0%
Forte implication (j’initie, je gère et je mène l’activité) 50 9.9% 293 19.2%
Implication partielle (j’y contribue) 81 16.0% 368 24.1%
*(Missing)* 92 NA 122 NA
Low Research n = 599 | High research n = 1649
Involvement: improvement of existing products/services
Low Research
High research
Category N % N %
Activity not carried 320 63.4% 817 53.3%
Aucune implication 22 4.4% 88 5.7%
Forte implication (j’initie, je gère et je mène l’activité) 60 11.9% 290 18.9%
Implication partielle (j’y contribue) 103 20.4% 337 22.0%
*(Missing)* 94 NA 117 NA
Low Research n = 599 | High research n = 1649
Involvement: generation of new knowledge
Low Research
High research
Category N % N %
Activity not carried 265 51.6% 218 14.1%
Aucune implication 39 7.6% 26 1.7%
Forte implication (j’initie, je gère et je mène l’activité) 61 11.9% 875 56.6%
Implication partielle (j’y contribue) 149 29.0% 428 27.7%
*(Missing)* 85 NA 102 NA
Low Research n = 599 | High research n = 1649
Involvement: acquisition of external funding
Low Research
High research
Category N % N %
Activity not carried 302 58.6% 433 28.0%
Aucune implication 63 12.2% 169 10.9%
Forte implication (j’initie, je gère et je mène l’activité) 64 12.4% 452 29.2%
Implication partielle (j’y contribue) 86 16.7% 492 31.8%
*(Missing)* 84 NA 103 NA
Low Research n = 599 | High research n = 1649
Involvement: data analysis for decision-making
Low Research
High research
Category N % N %
Activity not carried 277 54.9% 521 34.1%
Aucune implication 35 6.9% 59 3.9%
Forte implication (j’initie, je gère et je mène l’activité) 59 11.7% 501 32.8%
Implication partielle (j’y contribue) 134 26.5% 447 29.3%
*(Missing)* 94 NA 121 NA
Low Research n = 599 | High research n = 1649

Collaborations initiated towards academic sector (Q187)

Initiated collaboration towards the academic sector (Q187)
Low Research
High research
Category N % N %
Oui 169 38.3% 360 58.6%
Non 272 61.7% 254 41.4%
*(Missing)* 158 NA 1035 NA
Low Research n = 599 | High research n = 1649

6. PhD Value in Current Position

PhD required for the position (Q114)

PhD required for the position (Q114)
Low Research
High research
Category N % N %
Oui 142 24.0% 1193 72.9%
Non 450 76.0% 443 27.1%
*(Missing)* 7 NA 13 NA
Low Research n = 599 | High research n = 1649

PhD as an asset (Q115)

PhD perceived as an asset for the position (Q115)
Low Research
High research
Category N % N %
Non 236 39.9% 177 10.8%
Oui 213 36.0% 264 16.2%
Requis 142 24.0% 1193 73.0%
*(Missing)* 8 NA 15 NA
Low Research n = 599 | High research n = 1649

Required qualification level (Q116)

Required qualification level for the position (Q116)
Low Research
High research
Category N % N %
Aucun 21 4.7% 7 1.6%
Certificat d'enseignement secondaire supérieur (CESS) 6 1.3% 1 0.2%
Bachelier 36 8.0% 23 5.2%
Master 377 84.0% 389 88.2%
Je ne sais pas 9 2.0% 21 4.8%
*(Missing)* 150 NA 1208 NA
Low Research n = 599 | High research n = 1649

PhD recognised as added value (Q217)

PhD recognised as added value in current job (Q217)
Low Research
High research
Category N % N %
Pas du tout d'accord 84 14.3% 48 3.0%
Plutôt pas d'accord 73 12.5% 68 4.2%
Ni d'accord, ni pas d'accord 98 16.7% 165 10.2%
Plutôt d'accord 200 34.1% 449 27.7%
Tout à fait d'accord 131 22.4% 892 55.0%
*(Missing)* 13 NA 27 NA
Low Research n = 599 | High research n = 1649

7. Reasons for leaving academic career

Reasons for leaving academic career (Q99)

Reasons for leaving academic career
Low research
High research
Category N % N %
Biases Discrimination 34 9.0% 62 12.0%
Creativity Outside Academia 29 7.7% 45 8.7%
More Useful Outside 85 22.4% 112 21.7%
Better Conditions Outside 115 30.3% 221 42.8%
Work Life Difficulty 117 30.9% 158 30.6%
Burnout 56 14.8% 43 8.3%
Precarity Lack Opportunities 277 73.1% 374 72.5%
Loss Of Meaning 53 14.0% 48 9.3%
Applied Concrete Work 144 38.0% 211 40.9%
Loneliness 39 10.3% 43 8.3%

8. Skills Used in Current Job (Q120)

Skills Used in Current Job
Low research
High research
Category N % N %
Use Scientific Expertise 384 69.6% 1450 93.4%
Use Research Methods 273 49.3% 1388 89.6%
Use Critical Thinking 510 91.9% 1503 96.7%
Use Problem Solving 511 91.9% 1482 95.6%
Use Business Skills 180 33.2% 536 35.1%
Use Project Management 368 66.8% 1263 81.7%
Use Team Management 298 53.9% 950 61.5%
Use Teamwork 495 89.7% 1455 94.2%
Use Social Skills 525 95.1% 1455 94.3%
Use Initiative Autonomy 526 94.8% 1476 95.5%
Use Flexibility 526 94.8% 1496 96.5%
Use Creativity 454 81.5% 1414 91.5%
Use Science Communication 308 55.5% 1372 88.5%
Use Science Outreach 355 64.3% 1229 79.3%

9. Job Satisfaction (Q149)

Mean

Satisfaction at work
Low research
High research
Category Mean Mean
Working Conditions 3.79 3.89
Societal Contribution 3.97 3.92
Intellectual Challenge 3.65 4.16
Responsibility Level 3.75 3.94
Career Prospects 3.25 3.35
Salary Benefits 3.52 3.64
Work Life Balance 3.75 3.69
Supervisor Relations 3.87 3.98
Colleague Relations 4.09 4.17
Job Security 3.64 3.30
Use Phd Skills 3.37 4.15
Overall 3.79 3.91

Distribution

Satisfaction
Low research
High research
Category N % N %
Satisfaction Working Conditions : 1 23 3.8% 65 3.9%
Satisfaction Working Conditions : 2 60 10.0% 134 8.1%
Satisfaction Working Conditions : 3 97 16.2% 200 12.1%
Satisfaction Working Conditions : 4 246 41.1% 736 44.6%
Satisfaction Working Conditions : 5 162 27.0% 492 29.8%
Satisfaction Working Conditions : Na 11 1.8% 22 1.3%
Satisfaction Societal Contribution : 1 17 2.8% 35 2.1%
Satisfaction Societal Contribution : 2 28 4.7% 93 5.6%
Satisfaction Societal Contribution : 3 104 17.4% 289 17.5%
Satisfaction Societal Contribution : 4 249 41.6% 758 46.0%
Satisfaction Societal Contribution : 5 192 32.1% 455 27.6%
Satisfaction Societal Contribution : Na 9 1.5% 19 1.2%
Satisfaction Intellectual Challenge : 1 26 4.3% 40 2.4%
Satisfaction Intellectual Challenge : 2 76 12.7% 77 4.7%
Satisfaction Intellectual Challenge : 3 111 18.5% 167 10.1%
Satisfaction Intellectual Challenge : 4 245 40.9% 638 38.7%
Satisfaction Intellectual Challenge : 5 132 22.0% 707 42.9%
Satisfaction Intellectual Challenge : Na 9 1.5% 20 1.2%
Satisfaction Responsibility Level : 1 23 3.8% 31 1.9%
Satisfaction Responsibility Level : 2 55 9.2% 115 7.0%
Satisfaction Responsibility Level : 3 113 18.9% 242 14.7%
Satisfaction Responsibility Level : 4 253 42.2% 775 47.0%
Satisfaction Responsibility Level : 5 143 23.9% 466 28.3%
Satisfaction Responsibility Level : Na 12 2.0% 20 1.2%
Satisfaction Career Prospects : 1 59 9.8% 152 9.2%
Satisfaction Career Prospects : 2 86 14.4% 282 17.1%
Satisfaction Career Prospects : 3 172 28.7% 319 19.3%
Satisfaction Career Prospects : 4 192 32.1% 595 36.1%
Satisfaction Career Prospects : 5 79 13.2% 279 16.9%
Satisfaction Career Prospects : Na 11 1.8% 22 1.3%
Satisfaction Salary Benefits : 1 48 8.0% 102 6.2%
Satisfaction Salary Benefits : 2 75 12.5% 210 12.7%
Satisfaction Salary Benefits : 3 119 19.9% 250 15.2%
Satisfaction Salary Benefits : 4 220 36.7% 669 40.6%
Satisfaction Salary Benefits : 5 128 21.4% 395 24.0%
Satisfaction Salary Benefits : Na 9 1.5% 23 1.4%
Satisfaction Work Life Balance : 1 27 4.5% 79 4.8%
Satisfaction Work Life Balance : 2 75 12.5% 228 13.8%
Satisfaction Work Life Balance : 3 94 15.7% 269 16.3%
Satisfaction Work Life Balance : 4 215 35.9% 601 36.4%
Satisfaction Work Life Balance : 5 179 29.9% 454 27.5%
Satisfaction Work Life Balance : Na 9 1.5% 18 1.1%
Satisfaction Supervisor Relations : 1 19 3.2% 74 4.5%
Satisfaction Supervisor Relations : 2 51 8.5% 117 7.1%
Satisfaction Supervisor Relations : 3 84 14.0% 174 10.6%
Satisfaction Supervisor Relations : 4 210 35.1% 629 38.1%
Satisfaction Supervisor Relations : 5 174 29.0% 600 36.4%
Satisfaction Supervisor Relations : Na 61 10.2% 55 3.3%
Satisfaction Colleague Relations : 1 23 3.8% 45 2.7%
Satisfaction Colleague Relations : 2 28 4.7% 85 5.2%
Satisfaction Colleague Relations : 3 66 11.0% 153 9.3%
Satisfaction Colleague Relations : 4 230 38.4% 612 37.1%
Satisfaction Colleague Relations : 5 242 40.4% 735 44.6%
Satisfaction Colleague Relations : Na 10 1.7% 19 1.2%
Satisfaction Job Security : 1 76 12.7% 256 15.5%
Satisfaction Job Security : 2 72 12.0% 278 16.9%
Satisfaction Job Security : 3 63 10.5% 233 14.1%
Satisfaction Job Security : 4 157 26.2% 435 26.4%
Satisfaction Job Security : 5 221 36.9% 425 25.8%
Satisfaction Job Security : Na 10 1.7% 22 1.3%
Satisfaction Use Phd Skills : 1 48 8.0% 55 3.3%
Satisfaction Use Phd Skills : 2 86 14.4% 81 4.9%
Satisfaction Use Phd Skills : 3 151 25.2% 148 9.0%
Satisfaction Use Phd Skills : 4 208 34.7% 623 37.8%
Satisfaction Use Phd Skills : 5 96 16.0% 723 43.8%
Satisfaction Use Phd Skills : Na 10 1.7% 19 1.2%
Satisfaction Overall : 1 13 2.2% 28 1.7%
Satisfaction Overall : 2 42 7.0% 107 6.5%
Satisfaction Overall : 3 109 18.2% 214 13.0%
Satisfaction Overall : 4 317 52.9% 916 55.5%
Satisfaction Overall : 5 109 18.2% 359 21.8%
Satisfaction Overall : Na 9 1.5% 25 1.5%

Report generated with Quarto. Low Research group defined as Doc2025_LR · High research as Doc2025.