Future Physics PhDs interested in academia

Graduate School
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Are there any current or future physics PhDs with knowledge about employment prospects for Physics PhDs in academia for tenured professor positions?

After seeing this article about the glut of post-docs in biomedical fields vying for tenured positions (http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2014/09/16/343539024/too-few-university-jobs-for-americas-young-scientists), I was wondering if the same thing was true for Physics PhDs.

Thanks.

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For many years, there has been the promise of baby-boomer retirements which will open positions in academia for physicists. In my 30 years as a professor, I have not seen this and I think it is because the research funding for physics has not grown much if at all and universities are undergoing a lot of changes now. However, I have had a few graduate students go into academia so it is still possible. Since the odds are relatively low, however, it is essential to have a backup plan. The market for Ph.D.s in physics is still very good but many move into non-academic jobs and non-physics jobs too.

There are some interesting sites which track the physics job openings in specific sub-specialties and it is worth checking them to get an idea of what is going on.One is the [Theoretical Particle Physics Jobs Rumor Mill](current [Particle Physics Rumor Mill]), another is the [Theoretical Nuclear Physics Jobs](Department of Physics) site. These are for theoretical physics jobs and there is one for [Astrophysics[/url] jobs and another for [url=“<a href=“http://cmamorumor.wikispaces.com/JobPostings2014%22%5DCondensed”>http://cmamorumor.wikispaces.com/JobPostings2014”]Condensed Matter Physics](AstroBetter | Rumor Mill Faculty-Staff) as well. There are probably more opportunities in experimental physics of other kinds too but you can get the flavor from these sites.

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Thanks @xraymancs !

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@xraymancs one more thing - do you recommend students go directly for the Physics PhD after the bachelors in physics or do you recommend doing a masters first and then a PhD?

Tyvm!

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@NerdyParent - If someone wants a Ph.D. and has the grades, test scores and letters of recommendation to get into the program of their choice, then it is best to go straight for the Ph.D. There is usually little to be gained by starting with a M.S. in these circumstances. The coursework for both degrees is the same and often physics students just get a coursework M.S. on the way to the Ph.D. but writing a Masters Thesis takes time that could better be used in doing Ph.D. research.

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Thanks @xraymancs !