I want to major in chemistry but people say that it isn’t an employable major. I don’t have any problems with going on to grad school but I don’t want to do academia. Also, would majoring in chemistry limit me from other paths such a business school or law? Could I switch majors into Chemical engineering if I wanted and still graduate in 4 years?
Depends on how late you switch. Engineering has a lot of math to get out of the way before you can even start your major classes.
It is not a problem to switch (if your university allows switching easily) to chemical engineering after the first year. The First year classes are all the same. Chemistry requires a lot of math as well since physical chemistry depends on calculus through differential equations. Chemical Engineering also requires Chemistry through Organic Chemistry and Physical Chemistry so there are a lot of common courses.
As to your first question. With a B.S. in chemistry you will probably be able to get a job as an analytical chemist in industry. Analytical chemistry is needed just about everywhere. With a Ph.D. it is pretty easy to get a good job in industry, particularly if you specialize in inorganic, physical or materials chemistry. A Ph.D. in organic chemistry used to lead primarily into the pharmaceutical industry but that field is a bit depressed at the moment.
Chemistry is a great path into law. There’s a need for lawyers with scientific backgrounds in industry and in patent law. I
You can go into Pharmacy, MD, DO, and basically any other health-care related grad school.
You can also get into the pharmaceutical or biotech industries.