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Table 61. Statistical profile of postgraduation plans of doctorate recipients in mathematics and computer sciences fields, by sex and field of study: 2015

Characteristic All mathematics and computer sciences fields Computer and information sciences Mathematics and statistics
All doctorate recipients (number)a 3,825 2,005 1,820
Postgraduation status (number)b
Definite postgraduation study 746 248 498
Definite employment 1,461 865 596
Seeking employment or study 885 451 434
Otherc 144 83 61
Definite postgraduation study (%)d
Postdoc fellowship 50.7 39.9 56.0
Postdoc research associateship 48.4 59.3 43.0
Other or unknowne 0.9 0.8 1.0
Definite employment (%)f
Academe 33.7 24.6 46.8
Government 5.3 5.3 5.4
Industry or businessg 56.7 65.8 43.6
Nonprofit organization 2.9 2.9 2.9
Other or unknownh 1.4 1.4 1.3
Primary activityi
R&D 66.7 75.1 54.3
Teaching 23.0 13.2 37.4
Management or administration 2.8 3.4 2.0
Professional services 3.3 2.9 3.9
Other 4.2 5.4 2.5
Secondary activityj
R&D 19.9 13.2 29.7
Teaching 10.0 10.3 9.4
Management or administration 9.9 10.7 8.7
Professional services 6.2 6.0 6.4
Other 1.5 1.4 1.6
No secondary activity 52.5 58.2 44.1
Activity unknown 4.7 3.9 5.7
Postgraduation location (%)k
United Statesl 88.9 90.7 87.0
New England 8.7 7.6 9.7
Middle Atlantic 14.3 12.6 16.0
East North Central 10.3 6.8 13.9
West North Central 3.2 2.4 4.0
South Atlantic 12.5 10.1 15.0
East South Central 1.9 1.9 1.8
West South Central 5.4 4.4 6.4
Mountain 4.4 3.9 5.0
Pacific and insular 28.2 41.0 15.2
Not in United States 10.8 8.8 12.8
Location unknown 0.4 0.5 0.2
Male doctorate recipients (number) 2,880 1,582 1,298
Postgraduation status (number)b
Definite postgraduation study 579 198 381
Definite employment 1,103 711 392
Seeking employment or study 662 342 320
Otherc 104 64 40
Definite postgraduation study (%)d
Postdoc fellowship 50.9 39.9 56.7
Postdoc research associateship 47.8 59.1 42.0
Other or unknowne 1.2 1.0 1.3
Definite employment (%)f
Academe 30.0 22.4 43.9
Government 5.9 D D
Industry or businessg 59.7 67.5 45.4
Nonprofit organization 3.0 D D
Other or unknownh 1.5 1.7 1.0
Primary activityi
R&D 68.9 76.5 55.1
Teaching 20.8 12.1 36.4
Management or administration 2.8 D D
Professional services 3.0 D D
Other 4.5 5.6 2.7
Secondary activityj
R&D 17.8 12.1 28.2
Teaching 8.7 9.1 8.0
Management or administration 10.2 11.3 8.2
Professional services 5.8 5.8 5.9
Other 1.6 1.6 1.6
No secondary activity 55.8 60.1 48.1
Activity unknown 3.9 3.8 4.1
Postgraduation location (%)k
United Statesl 89.5 91.7 86.8
New England 8.3 7.5 9.3
Middle Atlantic 14.8 13.6 16.2
East North Central 10.2 6.9 14.0
West North Central 3.4 D D
South Atlantic 11.8 9.7 14.4
East South Central 1.5 D D
West South Central 5.2 4.5 6.0
Mountain 4.3 4.0 4.8
Pacific and insular 30.0 41.5 16.4
Not in United States 10.3 7.8 13.2
Location unknown 0.2 0.4 0.0
Female doctorate recipients (number) 943 423 520
Postgraduation status (number)b
Definite postgraduation study 167 50 117
Definite employment 358 154 204
Seeking employment or study 223 109 114
Otherc 40 19 21
Definite postgraduation study (%)d
Postdoc fellowship 49.7 40.0 53.8
Postdoc research associateship 50.3 60.0 46.2
Other or unknowne 0.0 0.0 0.0
Definite employment (%)f
Academe 45.0 35.1 52.5
Government 3.6 D D
Industry or businessg 47.8 57.8 40.2
Nonprofit organization 2.5 D D
Other or unknownh 1.1 0.0 2.0
Primary activityi
R&D 59.8 68.7 52.7
Teaching 30.0 18.4 39.2
Management or administration 2.7 D D
Professional services 4.2 D D
Other 3.3 4.8 2.2
Secondary activityj
R&D 26.4 18.4 32.8
Teaching 14.1 16.3 12.4
Management or administration 9.0 8.2 9.7
Professional services 7.2 6.8 7.5
Other 1.2 0.7 1.6
No secondary activity 42.0 49.7 36.0
Activity unknown 7.0 4.5 8.8
Postgraduation location (%)k
United Statesl 86.9 85.8 87.5
New England 9.7 8.3 10.6
Middle Atlantic 12.6 7.8 15.6
East North Central 10.9 6.4 13.7
West North Central 2.7 D D
South Atlantic 14.7 11.8 16.5
East South Central 3.0 D D
West South Central 6.1 3.9 7.5
Mountain 4.8 3.4 5.6
Pacific and insular 22.5 38.7 12.1
Not in United States 12.4 13.2 11.8
Location unknown 0.8 1.0 0.6
D = suppressed to avoid disclosure of confidential information.
a Includes respondents who did not report sex.
b Includes only respondents who reported postgraduation status.
c Includes respondents who indicated that they did not plan to work or study, respondents who indicated some other type of postgraduation plans, and respondents who indicated definite plans for other full-time degree program.
d Excludes respondents who indicated plans for other full-time degree program. Percentages based on the number of doctorate recipients reporting definite postgraduation plans for study.
e "Other" includes respondents who indicated definite postgraduation study plans for traineeship, internship or clinical residency, or other study.
f Percentages based on number of doctorate recipients reporting definite postgraduation plans for employment.
g Includes doctorate recipients who indicated self-employment.
h "Other" is mainly composed of elementary and secondary schools.
i Percentages based on number of doctorate recipients reporting definite postgraduation plans for employment and primary work activity.
j Percentages based on number of doctorate recipients reporting definite postgraduation plans for employment and secondary work activity.
k Percentages based on number of doctorate recipients reporting definite postgraduation plans and type of plans.
l Includes cases with an unknown U.S region of employment after doctorate; see technical notes for states or territories included in regions.
NOTES: Due to rounding, percentages may not sum to 100. See table A-6 in the technical notes for a listing of major fields and their constituent subfields.
SOURCE: National Science Foundation, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Earned Doctorates, 2015.