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Working at a university is no longer one of the most secure professions in Canada, according to a groundbreaking study of contract faculty at universities.

The study, Contract U, found that more than half of all faculty appointments are now on contract: 38,681 or 53.6 per cent.

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The study is the first data-driven look at how many university faculty jobs across the country are on contract,where they’re located and the academic departments they’re likely to be found in.

Released on Thursday by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, the study ranked two Metro Vancouver institutions No. 1 and No. 3 in Canada for the percentage of contract appointments of faculty in 2016-17: Simon Fraser University was on top at 77.79 per cent and Emily Carr University of Art + Design was third at 74.48 per cent.

Capilano University was 11th at 69.75 per cent.

Chandra Pasma, co-author of the study with Erika Shaker, said the data collected from universities shows that contract labour has become a “fundamental part of how” university management hires faculty.