Job opportunities at all career stages for geoscientists is on the rise

[Simfish]

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v473/n7346/full/nj7346-243a.html

Mention geoscience and people often imagine trekking to far-flung regions to hammer rocks. But the discipline offers a wide range of opportunities beyond this. “There's room for those who love field work, and there's room for those who don't,” says Eric Calais, a geophysicist at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, who has spent time in the field studying the movements and deformations of Earth's tectonic plates in Ethiopia, Siberia and Indonesia. Calais recently left the lab again — this time as science adviser to the United Nations Development Program's mission to quake-torn Haiti, where he is helping to develop public-safety policy and working with local scientists, government officials and international aid workers to build a national agency for seismic risk reduction. “Data analysts, computer modellers — geoscience needs all types of researchers,” he notes.

Hmm, what percent of these jobs will be in the private sector, and what percent in the public sector? I'd be concerned about anything in the public sector since the Republicans can easily take it away when they win control of the presidency or congress (which could happen in 2 years, 4 years, or later).

 

[Andre]

That may be a very valid consideration, albeit that the cause may not be political but rather something -euphemistically- called "advancing awareness" (in The Netherlands at least) AKA "self correcting science" about subjects that shall not be mentioned.

Meanwhile there may be chances for shale gas?

 

[TheMadMonk]

I thought the graph comparing Masters and Ph.D degrees was extremely interesting. I'm about to pursue a Bachelors degree in Geophysics here in Scotland and looks like I should be planning my next move after that already.

 

[E=ML^2]

Thanks for sharing! This looks very promising :) The situation looks similar in Sweden (afaik) when it comes to retiring.

 

[LudusRex]

I can understand your concern about job stability in the public sector. However, it is important to note that the rise in job opportunities for geoscientists is not limited to just the public sector. In fact, according to the American Geosciences Institute, the majority of geoscience jobs are in the private sector, with only about 25% in government agencies. Additionally, the demand for geoscientists is not solely dependent on government funding, as there are also opportunities in industries such as energy, mining, environmental consulting, and technology.

Furthermore, the field of geoscience is constantly evolving and adapting to new challenges and technologies, making it less vulnerable to political changes. The need for geoscientists to address issues such as climate change, natural disasters, and resource exploration will continue to drive job growth in both the public and private sectors.

In summary, while it is important to consider potential job stability in any field, the rise in opportunities for geoscientists is not solely dependent on the public sector and is expected to continue in the coming years. As a scientist, it is important to stay informed and adaptable in order to thrive in a constantly changing job market.