The employment environment for chemists has changed considerably in recent years, and these changes have implications for chemists at all degree levels and at all stages of their careers. While there are many factors that play a role in the current employment environment, some of the more significant include the increasing number of graduating chemists, pipeline issues pertaining to doctoral degree holders and their transition through post-doctoral appointments to more permanent positions, a decline in the availability of traditional tenure-track professorships, and the decline in U.S.-based industrial chemist jobs with large chemical or pharmaceutical companies. Drawing on data from the ACS and government sources, we have studied the employment sector for chemists from two directions: the supply of employment positions requiring a degree in chemistry, and the demand for these jobs. We will discuss the data behind the trends in recent years and consider the implications of what this might mean for the many sectors and careers stages relevant to employment as a chemist.

Evolving nature of supply and demand factors in the chemical workforce

251st National Meeting (2016)

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