For some specialties, at least for STEAM, there’re some parallels to the US med student->doctor system, high barrier to entry, then postdocing while waiting to become full fledged staff position to open up somewhere you deal with low pay, but doing some time as a post doc you’re expected to gain the knowledge to become a true academic/scientist or whatnot, its similar to residency in a lot of ways.
Most postdocs I knew ended up leaving the field to do something else, mostly baking or other catering-restaurant type businesses.
For some specialties, at least for STEAM, there’re some parallels to the US med student->doctor system, high barrier to entry, then postdocing while waiting to become full fledged staff position to open up somewhere you deal with low pay, but doing some time as a post doc you’re expected to gain the knowledge to become a true academic/scientist or whatnot, its similar to residency in a lot of ways.
Most postdocs I knew ended up leaving the field to do something else, mostly baking or other catering-restaurant type businesses.