Austria: 25% of postdocs permanent contracts by 2027 for "more attractive careers" (M.Polaschek)

"We need to make careers in science and research more attractive. That's my long-term goal. That's why we're starting where the need for action is greatest in Austria: with postdocs. Almost all the young people in this sector hold temporary jobs. Our aim is to make 25% of these contracts permanent by 2027", says Martin Polaschek, Austrian Federal Minister for Education, Science and Research on 26/08/2024.

According to the Ministry, Austria compares unfavourably with the rest of Europe on the issue of post-doctorates: 51% of people in their thirties and forties have temporary contracts, compared with innovative countries such as Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland and the Netherlands, where this proportion is much lower.

To remedy this situation, Martin Polaschek wants, as a first step, to increase the proportion of permanent contracts for postdocs financed by third-party funds to 25%, thus bringing the postdoc sector into line with the rest of the academic staff.

Twelve Austrian universities are affected by this measure, with 110 permanent contracts currently in place out of 2,248. The aim…