ICoRSA member organization CAPS-ACPP (Canadian Association of Postdoctoral Scholars) has released the results of its 2024 National Postdoctoral Survey. This survey is the fifth in a series of national surveys since 2009, a longitudinal dataset on the postdoc experience in Canada.
Conducted between September 2024 and January 2025, and funded by CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC, this year’s survey introduced new questions on personal identity, financial health, parental leave, and how postdoc experiences compare to expectations.
Some key findings:
🔹 Average postdoc salary rose from $52,500 (2020) to $57,500 (2024) with living expenses rising faster (+29%), and salary satisfaction dropped (45% → 37%)
🔹 Mental health challenges increased sharply, from 79% (2020) to 86% (2024) of postdocs reporting issues
🔹 34% of postdocs reported experiencing harassment or discrimination, with a shift toward identity-based factors
🔹 Interest in tenure-track careers declined (77% → 68%), as postdocs increasingly look toward industry, government, and NGO careers
🔹 Fewer postdocs plan to stay in or return to Canada compared to 2020
The report closes with recommendations organized around three themes: securing benefits and protections, supporting diversified career development, and building a coordinated, data-driven postdoc ecosystem.
Read the full report (EN/FR): https://capsacpp.ca/surveys/2024-national-postdoctoral-survey/
