Dear Dan and friends, Thanks for posting this. I suspect many people have convinced themselves that there is a serious shortage based upon this kind of scenario. But, no matter what you want to believe, it is clear that very few emerging scientists have an expectation of an academic job these days. It seems to be a pretty logical conclusion if you're a PhD on your fourth postdoc or after you 400th application.
Funding continues to be scarce.
It is pretty difficult to believe that the science employment picture is very healthy. But, the malaise isn't from the scientist-shortage perspective, but rather from the job and funding shortage reality. Funding continues to be scarce.