PhD Studentship: Labour Market Skills and Regional Productivity (International and Home)

The project:

We invite applications for a PhD studentship in the area of Labour Market Skills and Regional Productivity, hosted by the University of Bristol Business School and delivered in collaboration with The Productivity Institute (TPI) and the South West Productivity Forum. 

This opportunity is particularly well-suited for students with a strong background in Economics, Econometrics, Management Science, or quantitative social sciences, and an interest in advanced econometric analysis and regional development. It also includes direct engagement with regional stakeholders, including West of England Combined Authority to support policy innovation and development.

Led by Professor Palie Smart, Professor Helen Simpson, Professor Fangming Xu and Dr. Minhao Zhang, this studentship project focuses on advanced econometric analysis of labour skills and productivity enhancement. The project directly responds to the UK government's mission-oriented growth agenda by establishing robust analytical frameworks for examining how skills heterogeneity, technological adoption, and organizational adaptations influence productivity differentials between regions, nations, and international economies. More specifically, the project will investigate interconnected dimensions of regional productivity dynamics through analyses of skilled worker mobility patterns, computational characterization of regional skills demand via job advertisement data, and examination of geographical dimensions of firm-level recruitment strategies.

The doctoral project will apply sophisticated identification strategies to evaluate the causal impact of exogenous shocks on skill demand transformations and subsequent productivity trajectories. It will systematically quantify heterogeneous effects across three distinct geographic contexts: regional (South West England - West of England Combined Authority), national (UK), and international (USA, China, Europe). This multi-scale approach will directly inform regional devolution strategies by providing granular, evidence-based insights into place-specific productivity barriers and enablers.

The selected candidate will engage directly with the South West Productivity Forum's network of policymakers, regional businesses, and academic partners, contributing to "policy innovation best practice, evidenced-based policy making, and knowledge exchange" as identified in the Forum's priority areas.

How to apply:

Stage 1: Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) - All prospective applicants must complete a short Expression of Interest (EOI) form as a preliminary step. The form collects key information on your academic background, methodological skills, and alignment with the project focus. Submitting an EOI is mandatory. Only those who receive a positive response will be invited to proceed to the formal application stage.

Submitting your EOI via the following link

Stage 2: Formal Application (By Invitation Only) - Once you receive confirmation of supervisory support following Stage 1, you will be invited to submit a formal application via the University of Bristol’s online portal. Select “Management (PhD)” on the programme selection page.

Candidate requirements: 

• A first-class honours degree (or international equivalent) or strong upper second-class honours (2:1) in Economics, Econometrics, Management Science, or a quantitatively rigorous social science discipline, with a master's degree from a recognized institution (completed or in progress). In exceptional cases, candidates with an outstanding bachelor's degree alone may be considered.
• Demonstrated competence in causal inference methodologies and econometric identification strategies.
• Proficiency in statistical programming languages (R, Python, or Stata) with verifiable experience in panel data analysis.
• Good communication abilities for effective knowledge dissemination to academic, policy, and industry stakeholders.

Funding: This bursary is for four years, starting autumn 2025. The bursary provides full tuition fees (for either home/EU or international students), and a stipend at the rate of at least £20,400 per annum, paid in instalments, and teaching income, which will depend on the hours worked.

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