The Physics Workforce: The Latest Data on Supply and Demand

This paper will provide an overview of the trends both in physics education at all degree levels and in the employment of physicists throughout the economy. The paper also includes comparative data on the trends in related fields. There will be a discussion of the common career paths pursued by physicists at different degree levels with particular emphasis on non-academic employment. The paper includes a detailed description of professional master's degree programs in physics departments as well as findings from AIP studies that describe the skills that employers value. The paper concludes with suggestions for how physics departments might assist their students in finding employment during these difficult economic times.