JOB MARKET FOR CHEMISTS FALTERS: ACS survey shows sudden jump in joblessness while salaries post solid gains

THE LATEST ANNUAL AMERIcan Chemical Society survey of the employment status and salaries of its chemist members reveals a jarring increase in those who are unemployed but seeking employment—to 33%. This is more than twice what it was ayear ago and one of the highest levels in the more than 30-year history of the survey. In contrast, the survey also indicates a median salary gain for individual chemists of almost 5% over last year. This compares with a 1.5% rate of inflation. Last year's survey indicated the best job situation for chemists in a decade, with a relatively low 1.5% unemployed. It also indicated that chemists had, rather belatedly caught up with the biggest economic boom in U.S. History, from 1993 through 2000. These surveys, conducted by ACS's Department of Career Services, are as of March 1 each year. A full report on this year's survey will be in C&EN's ...