Postdocs

The number of postdocs increases

There is clear growth in the number of fte postdocs in the Netherlands. The number of fte postdocs employed by Dutch universities was 2,146 in 2005. In 2023, this number has grown to 3,957 fte. Postdocs are found mostly in engineering and natural sciences. However, their numbers have also grown rapidly in agriculture and behavioural and social sciences, as shown in the figure below.

More female postdocs and postdocs from non-Dutch nationalities

The proportion of female postdocs rose from 34% in 2005 to 43% in 2023. The proportion of female postdocs is highest in behavioural sciences (62%) and lowest in engineering (28%).

The proportion of non-Dutch postdocs employed in the Netherlands rose from 46% in 2007 to 70% in 2023. Many postdocs are part of a large international community of young researchers. The figure below shows the strong growth in the number of postdocs from the rest of Europe, and the increase in postdocs from the rest of the world.

What is the postdoc position for?

A postdoc is not an official position described in the university collective labour agreement. It falls into the category of ‘other academic staff’. Numbers have risen for a range of reasons. It is attractive for employers to take on postdocs to help out with the large amount of work to be done at a university (due to growing numbers of students/degrees and doctorates and an increase in research). A lot of the university’s income is not structural, but comes in the form of grants for a certain period or project. In such circumstances it is very tempting to take on temporary staff. On the other hand, a postdoc position allows talented researchers to be spotted. More and more people are obtaining a doctorate, and the supply of potential postdocs is large.

For a researcher recently awarded a doctorate, a postdoc position provides an opportunity to stay and perhaps to advance in academia. But the likelihood is small, and competition is fierce. While the number of postdocs has been rising, the number of permanent university lecturer positions has in fact fallen over the past few years. Anyone who does not manage to obtain a tenured position at a university will therefore be forced to try their luck elsewhere.

Sources

• UNL: Personnel data (annual data) Dutch website)
• Marije de Goede, Rosalie Belder and Jos de Jonge (2013). Academic careers in the Netherlands 2013. Facts & Figures 7, The Hague: Rathenau Instituut.

Photo: Bram Belloni/Hollandse Hoogte