Career directions to and from the state of the highly educated, 2007

The purpose of this study is to examine the motives, barriers and challenges in connection with the change of job from the public to the private sector or within the public sector (municipalities and counties). The study is based on the data on movement in the labour market available through Statistics Denmark. Data focused on graduates in the public sector have been used. The survey is focused on: - Mobility between public and private sectors. - Mobility between the state and other parts of the public sector. - Mobility and immobility among state employees. By applying this tripartite focus on the survey, it is possible to examine motives and barriers among the employees who changes job to and from the public sector, people who changes jobs within the state and people who have kept the same job within the state. The survey was conducted among the highly educated who are or have been employed in the state. Highly educated are defined as persons who completed a long cycle higher education. The study distinguishes between six types of respondents: - Former state employees who now work in the private sector - Former state employees who now work in the municipalities. - Employees who used to work in the private sector. - Employees who used to work in the municipalities. - Employees who found a new job in the state. - Employees who have worked in the same job in the state for a number of years. The survey was conducted in the period from 13 April to 29 May 2007 using a combination of internet and telephone interviews.