<p>Most of us believe that employment prospects for majors in the life and physical sciences are not as good as for business or engineering majors. But is this true?</p>
<p>A research center at Georgetown recently published a report[/url</a>] analyzing employment and earnings statistics for different college majors. Earnings for life/physical science majors are significantly lower at the undergrad level. However, take a look at the [url=<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68003073@N07/6642784221/in/photostream/%5Dunemployment">http://www.flickr.com/photos/68003073@N07/6642784221/in/photostream/]unemployment</a> data.</p>
<p>Unemployment rates are comparable to engineering. My question is: why? Are science majors more likely to settle for underemployment instead of holding out for a related position?</p>
<p>The vast majority of Life Sciences graduates were premed students and were not among the fortunate few that actually get into medical school and have few alternatives other than low wage jobs such as lab technicians and not as much settling as making the best of a bad situation that has its roots in their one time beliefs that they were going to be doctors.</p>
<p>In the case of the Physical Sciences, most students who major in these areas do it out of passion for what they are studying. As Astronomy major for example is often preparing for a hobby as much as a career and and are probably happy to be paid at all for pursuing a hobby.</p>
<p>Sorry for bumping up this old thread, but I’m still curious. Does anyone have a good interpretation of these data?</p>
<p>I don’t really understand the unemployment figures they give. I suspect the post-grad degree holders include doctors, pharmacists and other professionals. The figures from the American Chemical society I posted several times indicate ~15-20% flat out unemployment and most of the rest are in “further studies” 40% have full time jobs and half of them are in lousy jobs in academia with poor pay and advancement opportunities.</p>
<p>I suspect most science grads end up leaving the field to get a job and that is why the employment numbers are a bit better. These are smart people with other good options.</p>