The result of “Study on the Transition from Postdoc to Permanent Employment”

In the case of postdocs in the “narrow sense” at research institutions, their future career paths are uncertain, and growing older while repeatedly renewing terms of unstable employment is becoming a problem. In this study, in order to clarify this situation and its causes, we use individual data_ from the “Survey on postdoctoral fellows regarding employment and moving-out situations – FY 2009 -,” Knowledge Infrastructure Policy Division, Science and Technology Policy Bureau, MEXT, to analyze transitions to permanent employment (full-time, unlimited term). Postdocs are most commonly ages 30-34. Their average number of years since completing a doctorate is 4-5. Transition to permanent employment can take as long as 5-7 years. Clearly, it is often the case that the transition is made after the training period of the postdoc, at the turning point of the end of that term. However, the average transition rate of 6.3% is markedly lower than the transition rate of general college graduates from non-regular to regular employment. The transition rates of women, those employed in science and medicine, and those employed using competitive funds in particular are significantly lower. Based on these circumstances, the necessity of providing support through the turning point that is the fifth year to enable transition to stable employment is indicated. In the future, it will be necessary to also consider the transition to permanent employment of research assistant, who appointed to fixed terms, which is not captured in this data.