<p>Not sure I agree with the blanket statement about "hard sciences" - does that include chemistry? If so, then this is a terrible market for organic chemists, especially with all the layoffs in pharma, unless you are a superstar.</p>
<p>Of course, if you speak Chinese and are willing to relocate, the prospects are brighter.</p>
<p>I can tell you from personal experience that there is a shortage of pediatric mental health specialists; it can take months and months to get an appointment with one.</p>
<p>dragonmom (like the name, btw)--
[quote]
Papachicken, in your experience, what's the outlook for EnviSci/Bio majors?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I'll try to answer your question from a few angles....</p>
<p>First, from my perspective as an environmental consultant....short term: still decent for getting employment. There are some in my field who are struggling or beginnning to struggle, but many others that have not yet been severely hit. Those with a large proportion of private-sector clients or who are in more depressed parts of the country seem to have been hit harder. May take some more work to get a job in the next couple of years, and it will likely be a "buyer's market" for those in my industry still looking to hire. IMHO, your D could have chosen a worse major. (I have a son who is about to elect philosophy! :) )</p>
<p>Long term, I am still very bullish. Even with oil prices dipping, I think the resurgence of environmental awareness and sustainability are here to stay and that young folks wanting a career in the general field will have a future. I must say, though, that the field is not as gang-buster driven by profit-hungering people (although we are profit-making, not an advocay group), and while we make a decent living, we will never, ever, be rich people by most US standards. It is a tremendously rewarding career path though, and your D's altruistic sentiments are typical for our field. </p>
<p>On specific major, env science/biology is probably at the low end of the starting food chain in my business. On the opposite end, engineers (that can communicate) are still a very dear commodity, and they still have a seller's market. But those that do well in my field in the long haul, do well no matter what their degree specialty, as long as they start with a technical degree. Undergrad-level env scientists and biologists are much more prevalent and don't typically graduate with higher-end specialty skills to make them as immediately valuable. For us, people skills dominate, being in consulting, and I would urge her to participate deeply in activities that will broaden her perspective, engage her in leadership and teamwork, and make her comfortable working and communicating with people....these skills will benefit her in virtually any endeavor, but they are of paramount importance to us in delivering highly technical services with multiple stakeholders of varying technical understanding. To differentiate her resume from the pack, relevant internships are always good, but I also look for evidence of leadership potential and service orientation, e.g., being a waiter or waitress! For our entry-level hires in the sciences, it is often (but not always) worthwhile to eventually go back to school for a masters (part-time works, but some choose full-time), whether it be in a technical area or, god forbid, business. A few years in a real-world job will help focus direction in this regard.</p>
<p>Hope that helps. PC</p>
<p>Here in Florida, everyone talks about the nursing shortage but then why are all the nursing programs at our state universities limited access majors? At my daughter's school, UCF, there are 400 applicants for 120 spots in the nursing college (Junior year entry for the BSN program). My child was considering nursing but now feels she dosen't have a chance.</p>
<p>Two big hospitals in our area announced layoffs last night. Third system to announce this week.</p>
<p>These posts are comical. By the time the HS kids finish up their degrees the worm will have turned.</p>
<p>I had an open job for two years for a statistician who could write a coherent paragraph. It took almost a year to fill a job for a communications person who could understand a bar graph. We pay well; benefits are fantastic; well known and prestigious place to work. It is very, very hard to find college graduates of any discipline who can "cross over", i.e. technical people who can communicate, or liberal arts grads who have taken arithmetic.</p>
<p>If you want to help kids in HS and college be employable, encourage them to develop basic skills (reading, writing, 'rithmetic); develop an ability to think critically and logically; demonstrate a capacity for learning new things and absorbing unfamiliar information quickly. That will serve them in better stead than training for last years labor shortage.</p>
<p>My radiologist reads screens from Chennai. And they said that medicine couldn't be outsourced....</p>
<p>seiclan-Nursing school is difficult to get into because there is a shortage of nursing instructors. There is definately a shortage of nurses nationwide. Every state seems to be having a problem finding instructors to teach. Most clinical nurses are paid better than instructors so it's not worth it to work more hours for less money. To better your D's chances of being accepted have her get her CNA license before she applies or maybe work in a hosp over the summer or volunteer there. Most nursing programs work on a point system and students who have those backgrounds usually have more points for admission.</p>