If you think objectively, why would an employer rather hire a B.eng than a PHD? The answer is because PHD is overqualified for that specific role. Not all but most. If you think about it, companies will need to invest time and money to train the Fresh PHD staff and since he/she is overqualified, they are easily sway to another direction, thus wasting the time for the company to train them or even pay them. Also ultimately an employee gets paid however much an employer can afford or think that employee is worth. If there’s a mismatch, one side will give way. For an example, if the employer thinks that investing in a B.eng is more worthwhile in the long term compared to a phd holder even if they both accept the same pay. This is why many PHD holder got stuck and end up in research.

So who would hired a PhD grade? My guess is that specific industries to the PHD and in your case perhaps the likes of mnc like shell, slumberj or even Petronas. Why not? They too like PHD holders among them. They value expertise and knowledge.

Now why would you want a PHD? It does carry value. For an example if you’re competing with someone else whether in a company or two private companies competing, if you are the customer side, would you be more confident with a report that has a doctorate signatory at bottom or just a regular person with all other things considered. It does carry weight. Whether it’s worth the extra 5 years of lost working experience and income (and possibly expenses) worth the sacrifice or not. Worst case is the 5 years did not yield a phd for a variety of reasons.

It’s not that the customer need to know if it’s written by a phd or a degree holder. The PHD holder will want to make it clear that she/he is a phd holder of a field relevant to the report

It’s just like saying for all things equal (price, experience, facilities, service, etc), I imagine most people will want a specialist surgeon to operate on them rather than a GP even if the GP can do it. It’s a matter of perception.

For sure it does not work for all industries, I am in the engineering industry and for sure a PhD holder report carry heavier weight and if we (me as a non PhD holder) write completely opposite conclusion of a report, the customer will likely side on the PhD holder’s report. Even if I’m significantly more experienced than him/her. It’s perception. That a higher education entity has certified that he/she came out of university as a specialist of the field. I have no issue, if they chose her/his report and proven wrong, I will have my chance to prove my report and if come true, it will strengthen my case in the future. It is what is is, I don’t blame the customer because given the same choice, I might do the same if I don’t have sufficient evidence to back either one report.