What professional journeys after a PhD in the Wallonia Brussels Federation? PhD·Data lets the data speak

What career paths do PhD holders follow? What opportunities are available after defending a thesis? What is the value of this degree? The Observatory for Research and Scientific Careers- FNRS has just launched PhD·Data (observatoire.fnrs.be/phddata), an online tool that answers these questions and many more. The objective of PhD·Data is threefold: to inform the academic community, guide researchers in making career decisions, and support evidence-based decision-making on research and higher education policies. 

The transition to the labour market following the thesis defence represents an important milestone in the journey of PhD holders, often marked by uncertainty regarding career prospects. Academic mobility is also a central issue in scientific careers, sometimes perceived as an opportunity and at other times as a constraint. Finally, the contribution of PhD holders to the professional world remains often overlooked or underestimated. 

These themes lie at the heart of PhD·Data. Beyond raw statistics on scientific careers», this tool offers thematic analyses and recommendations on subjects such as the first employment after the PhD, supervision during the PhD, or the mobility of PhD holders. 

Its key added value lies in its interactive dashboard, which allows users to select and cross reference a wide range of indicators. Results can be filtered according to variables such as graduation year, gender, nationality or even research field, enabling users to obtain tailored analyses. 

The compiled data already tell a compelling story. Among the 2,389 PhD holders surveyed in late 2025, 95% were employed at the time of the survey, nearly three-quarters of them work in fields related to research and development, and over 75% say they are satisfied with their job. 

Available both in French and English, PhD·Data will be regularly updated with new analyses. 

“It’s dynamic and interactive, and that is precisely where the added value of this tool, developed by the Observatory of Research and Scientific Career-FNRS, lies. Whilst there are many publications on careers, PhD·Data stands out for its concise, engaging, accessible and practical format. We want users to explore the graphs, interact with the data and discover the diversity of PhD career paths for themselves” emphasises Véronique Halloin, Secretary General of the FNRS.