Arbeitszufriedenheit und Arbeitsbedingungen des DGPuK-Mittelbaus: Eine Bestandsaufnahme vor dem Hintergrund aktueller wissenschaftspolitischer Entwicklungen

Abstract

Die vorliegende Untersuchung stellt die erste Welle einer langfristig angelegten Trendstudie dar, die darauf abzielt, die Zufriedenheit des DGPuK-Mittelbaus mit den Arbeitsbedingungen in der Wissenschaft systematisch und evidenzbasiert zu erfassen. Besonderes Augenmerk der Auswertung des Basisteils (spezifischere Teilauswertungen folgen) liegt auf der Wahrnehmung der Arbeitsumstände und deren Einfluss auf die berufliche Zufriedenheit. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Arbeitszufriedenheit insgesamt moderat ist, eine Karriere in der Wissenschaft aber eher nicht als empfehlenswert wahrgenommen wird. Dabei spielen verschiedene Faktoren, wie Arbeitsbelastung, organisatorische Unterstützung und Karrieremöglichkeiten, eine zentrale Rolle. Es wird deutlich, dass insbesondere die berufliche Unsicherheit und die unklaren Karriereperspektiven als belastend empfunden werden. Die Studie bietet damit wertvolle Einblicke in die aktuelle Situation des Mittelbaus und legt den Grundstein für zukünftige Erhebungswellen, die die Entwicklung der Zufriedenheit im Zeitverlauf abbilden können. Die Erkenntnisse sollen dazu beitragen, gezielte Maßnahmen zur Verbesserung der Arbeitsbedingungen zu entwickeln und eine Datenbasis für das wissenschaftspolitische Engagement der Fachgesellschaft bieten.

This study represents the first wave of a long-term trend analysis aimed at systematically assessing job satisfaction among early career scholars (pre- and post-docs) within the German Communication Association (DGPuK). This evaluation focuses on the perception of working conditions and their impact on professional satisfaction. While the working conditions of scholars in academia have long been criticized, recent social media debates have highlighted the problematic working conditions in German academia, especially for early career scholars, and brought them into the focus of public attention. The Act on Fixed-Term Employment Contracts in Academia (Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz, WissZeitVG), introduced in 2007, was intended to protect scholars from systematic exploitation in temporary academic employment contracts. Instead, it has become emblematic of the fixed-term employment problem itself. With each amendment to the law—the first in 2016 and the planned amendment in 2023—the working conditions for scholars appear to worsen, with shorter time frames for completing different phases of qualification. Different studies have examined working conditions in academia in general and evaluated the changes since the introduction of the WissZeitVG. However, since each discipline operates differently, it is crucial to consider the specifics of each field and how scholars within it cope with the changing working environment. This study builds on previous analyses that have examined job satisfaction among early career scholars in German communication and media studies. The most recent study was published in 2014, and much has changed since then. Particularly considering the planned amendment to the WissZeitVG, it seemed only logical to conduct a new study to provide a robust data basis for engaging in discipline-specific science policy. Participants in this study ( N = 243) were recruited between 2023 and 2024 via the email distribution lists of the DGPuK early career network, as well as the DGPuK’s general and group section newsletters. The study targeted all scholars who are members of the newsletter groups and do not hold permanent positions as professors. Designed as a long-term study, the focus of recruitment was on ensuring a long-term comparison of study data; therefore, the results are limited to members of the German Communication Association. The survey results indicate that overall job satisfaction is rated as moderate, with various factors such as workload, lack of organizational support, and uncertain career opportunities playing a central role. Although the number of overtime hours had been declining in previous studies, it is now rising again and remains at a comparatively high level. As in prior studies, most scholars expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that they spend too much time on teaching and administration and too little on more critical tasks such as their own qualification, publications, and acquiring third-party funding. Furthermore, the results indicate that as of 2024, gender differences persist across career stages with the proportion of female researchers decreasing as career levels advance. Regarding contract terms, the findings show that less than half of the respondents work full-time, and the majority are employed in fixed-term contracts, with few prospects for either contract renewal or permanent positions. Therefore, data suggests that the workload, and consequently the perceived performance pressure, are continuing to increase as the working conditions remain insecure. It is particularly noteworthy that many respondents would hesitate to recommend a career in academia. This indicates a sense of uncertainty and skepticism about long-term career prospects, which is exacerbated by the current working conditions and structural framework within the academic system. Professional uncertainty and unclear career prospects are perceived as particularly stressful. In the authors’ opinion, this provides a strong argument for creating more permanent employment opportunities for scholars outside of professorships. These positions should not (just) focus on teaching and administrative tasks but should also allow scholars to conduct research, to maintain competitiveness as a research location.