First postgraduate position
Postdoc positions
Historically, postdoc study positions have been a customary part of the early career paths of doctoral scientists in life sciences and in physical sciences and earth sciences, and they have also become increasingly prevalent among recent doctoral graduates in mathematics and computer sciences, psychology and social sciences, and engineering. In 2010, the proportion of S&E doctorate recipients taking postdoc positions in the United States peaked and has since been in decline. Still, in 2016, 47% of all S&E doctorate recipients took postdoc positions immediately after graduation, including 63% of graduates in the life sciences.
U.S. postdoc rate for U.S. doctorate recipients, by broad field of study: 1996–2016
| Year | All fields | S&E fields | Life sciences | Physical sciences and earth sciences | Mathematics and computer sciences | Psychology and social sciences | Engineering | Non-S&E fields |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 29.9 | 43.4 | 68.0 | 59.7 | 24.8 | 23.0 | 23.1 | 3.8 |
| 1997 | 28.7 | 40.6 | 63.0 | 56.5 | 21.1 | 21.8 | 21.2 | 4.0 |
| 1998 | 29.3 | 40.8 | 63.4 | 55.5 | 20.9 | 25.1 | 19.4 | 5.2 |
| 1999 | 30.4 | 42.9 | 65.9 | 56.1 | 23.5 | 26.3 | 22.6 | 5.4 |
| 2000 | 28.9 | 41.0 | 62.7 | 55.6 | 21.9 | 24.8 | 21.3 | 5.1 |
| 2001 | 29.2 | 40.5 | 63.5 | 51.6 | 24.5 | 26.8 | 18.8 | 6.8 |
| 2002 | 30.7 | 43.3 | 61.7 | 56.8 | 30.9 | 27.1 | 25.6 | 6.8 |
| 2003 | 33.3 | 47.3 | 65.6 | 60.7 | 33.2 | 28.8 | 33.9 | 6.8 |
| 2004 | 35.8 | 50.8 | 69.4 | 65.9 | 34.3 | 31.0 | 38.5 | 6.8 |
| 2005 | 35.9 | 49.4 | 68.6 | 66.0 | 32.8 | 30.8 | 34.1 | 7.2 |
| 2006 | 34.0 | 46.5 | 66.1 | 63.5 | 28.9 | 30.1 | 30.0 | 6.5 |
| 2007 | 35.9 | 48.1 | 66.9 | 65.7 | 28.8 | 33.2 | 31.5 | 7.4 |
| 2008 | 35.4 | 47.3 | 66.5 | 63.3 | 30.2 | 33.2 | 30.1 | 7.6 |
| 2009 | 37.4 | 49.5 | 67.7 | 65.0 | 31.8 | 33.0 | 35.7 | 7.5 |
| 2010 | 43.0 | 55.2 | 70.9 | 72.2 | 39.7 | 35.2 | 46.1 | 9.4 |
| 2011 | 42.7 | 53.5 | 70.2 | 67.7 | 37.4 | 38.5 | 41.4 | 10.5 |
| 2012 | 40.1 | 50.4 | 67.2 | 66.6 | 33.2 | 38.3 | 35.5 | 9.4 |
| 2013 | 39.1 | 48.8 | 65.0 | 64.9 | 31.2 | 37.5 | 35.1 | 10.0 |
| 2014 | 38.9 | 47.6 | 65.8 | 60.2 | 30.6 | 37.2 | 33.3 | 10.9 |
| 2015 | 39.3 | 47.9 | 64.1 | 62.3 | 30.4 | 38.2 | 35.3 | 12.2 |
| 2016 | 38.5 | 46.7 | 62.6 | 59.1 | 29.2 | 37.9 | 33.4 | 11.6 |
- S&E = science and engineering.
- NOTE: Percentages are based on the number of doctorate recipients who reported definite postgraduation 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 44, 51, 52.
