<p>I've seen some statistics from bls according to which chemical engineering jobs are in decline for the next 10 years. I just got accepted into Rowan U's chemical engineering program and I'm waiting for decisions from UMinn, Penn State, Uof Rochester. I haven't applied to other colleges and I really want to know if I will have a horrible time getting a job as a chemical engineer.
I'm very interested in biochemistry as well as thermodynamics (so much that I've studied some of these stuffs on my own). I've heard that ChemE is a very versatile field so could I expect to get a job as an environmental engineer or materials engineer?
I want to go to grad school if possible especially biochem/materials related research (especially for carbon or protein based materials development). So should I be bothered by the statistics ? I really don't want to end up having a 30-40K debt with a minimum wage job.</p>
<p>Nobody can guarantee the job prospect. Don’t trust BLS or anyone. God knows, but we don’t.</p>
<p>If you really don’t want to end up with 30-40k debt, even if the job prospect is good, you should seek for cheaper universities, like state universities, city universities, which provide in-state tuitions. </p>
<p>Anyhow. Should you switch to another major just because of the bad prediction ? Well, you can. Say computer / electrical are going to increase 50% each year, should you switch to either one, but you have no interested in either one at all? No. You are going to get stressed out because “OMG, I CAN’T STAND AT CODING!!! I CAN’T STAND AT ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT!!!”</p>
<p>Like you said, ChemE is pretty versatile. You can get jobs in just anything that has to do with chemical (I mean manufacturing and research). For example, electronics. Since you are interested in graduate study, I say you can still make up your final minds by then. </p>
<p>Don’t worry 
everyone is suffering.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about the job market. Do what you love and the money will follow.</p>