Employment trends among postgraduate students: a bibliometric analysis

Purpose This study conducted a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to map the intellectual landscape and emerging research trends in the employment of postgraduate students. It identifies influential studies, dominant themes, and evolving areas of inquiry within a given domain. Design/methodology/approach Using data from the Web of Science Core Collection, this study applied co-citation and co-word analyses to examine the development and conceptual structure of scholarly work on postgraduate student employment. A sensemaking framework guides the interpretation of bibliometric patterns. Findings Co-citation analysis revealed five major clusters: (1) graduate employability and socio-psychological resources, (2) doctoral career transitions and workforce integration, (3) biomedical research career pathways, (4) academic socialization and mentorship cultures, and (5) structural challenges in doctoral education. Co-word analysis uncovered five thematic domains: skill development, diversity and gender dynamics, mental health disruptions, employment transition barriers, and motivational drivers among international postgraduates. The thematic map positioned “skills and perceptions,” “mental health,” and “labor market returns” as motor themes, while trend topic analysis revealed a shift from discipline-specific focus toward policy-relevant constructs such as transition, entrepreneurship, and employability. Originality/value This study enriches the theoretical discourse by integrating Human Capital Theory with Career Construction Theory, psychological empowerment, and sociocultural capital frameworks. It contributes to a multidimensional roadmap to guide curriculum reform, enhance mental health strategies, and strengthen cross-sector collaboration. By unpacking both enduring and emerging issues, this analysis offers actionable insights for universities, employers, and policymakers aiming to better align postgraduate education with labor-market realities.