Definite commitments to postgraduation study or work
Postdocs
The postdoc rate—the percentage of doctorate recipients with definite commitments in the United States for a postdoc position out of all doctorate recipients with postdoc or employment commitments—differed dramatically across doctorate age groups. Doctorate recipients age 41 or older at the time of doctorate award had a near constant postdoc rate from 2001 onward, averaging 10%. Postdoc rates were considerably higher for doctorate recipients age 31 to 40 at graduation (averaging 33%) and even more so for doctorate recipients age 30 or younger (averaging 49%). The two younger doctorate age groups exhibited the same trend over time, with increasing rates up to 2010–11 and declining rates after that period.
U.S. postdoc rate for U.S. doctorate recipients, by age at doctorate award: 1996–2016
| Year | 30 or younger | 31–40 | 41 or older |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 47.0 | 29.3 | 6.9 |
| 1997 | 43.8 | 27.3 | 7.3 |
| 1998 | 44.1 | 27.8 | 8.1 |
| 1999 | 46.0 | 28.6 | 9.4 |
| 2000 | 43.9 | 27.2 | 9.0 |
| 2001 | 42.9 | 27.6 | 10.5 |
| 2002 | 46.8 | 28.8 | 9.7 |
| 2003 | 50.5 | 30.7 | 10.2 |
| 2004 | 53.8 | 32.9 | 11.0 |
| 2005 | 52.3 | 32.6 | 10.7 |
| 2006 | 48.5 | 31.5 | 10.1 |
| 2007 | 49.8 | 34.5 | 11.0 |
| 2008 | 48.7 | 34.0 | 10.0 |
| 2009 | 51.7 | 35.6 | 9.7 |
| 2010 | 58.1 | 39.7 | 10.5 |
| 2011 | 55.6 | 40.0 | 11.0 |
| 2012 | 51.7 | 38.0 | 9.9 |
| 2013 | 51.3 | 36.3 | 9.1 |
| 2014 | 50.3 | 36.3 | 10.4 |
| 2015 | 50.6 | 36.3 | 9.7 |
| 2016 | 49.3 | 35.6 | 9.9 |
- NOTES: Percentages are based on the number of doctorate recipients who reported definite commitments for employment, including postdoc study, in the coming year and plans to live in the United States.
- SOURCE: Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities 2016. Related detailed data: tables 45, 51, 52, 55-71 (even numbered).
