Upon graduation, you would seek employment with major universities, observatories or government research laboratories that offer significant opportunities to pursue scientific research. It should also be noted that many people have found careers for themselves in fields that directly or indirectly support astronomy research by having a particular skill that is needed in a research program. To mention a few examples, a research effort at an observatory may require optical and mechanical technicians to assist in the work, data reduction specialists to help with data analysis, computer programmers and systems analysts and in some cases, draftsmen, writers, and even artists participate in shape the final presentation of results. Thus, a career involved in astronomy need not necessarily start with astronomy per se, it could begin with a skill you possess that is needed by astronomy. The availability of jobs when you finally enter the employment market is very difficult to predict, since we are now talking about 10 or more years in the future.
Few people have the wisdom to make such determinations accurately.
Astronomy is still a small enough field in terms of numbers and funds, and so heavily funded by government research grants, that a small shift in government policy towards scientific research has a very large effect on the field. Over the last 30 years, the job market has fluctuated up and down. In the rapidly changing culture we live in, such variations are to be expected and are often the price of progress. Given such uncertainties, the astronomy department feels that a program that emphasizes breadth of preparation is indicated, to try and obtain a wide range of useful knowledge and skills. This statement holds true at both the undergraduate and the graduate level.