Many young scientists are struggling to find employment in their field of training. As a young Ph.D. physicist, I know the situation. Let me tell you about my personal perspective on this and how I found a job. I wanted to be part of the exciting developments that would shape the next century. Well, what I found is not a place where the future is made, but an industry badly in need of restructuring and, yes, downsizing.
Modern science is fascinating.
Most results are neither marketable outside science, nor even communicable to more than some 100 people on the globe at any given time. In my view, this is the real cause for the present dismal funding situation. Unfortunately, taking society's problems more seriously than personal inclinations would be a tremendous mental step for the average researcher. The situation will probably be resolved differently. The scientific establishment will not change its attitude.