In common with many teachers of chemistry in universities I am concerned about the decline in the numbers of young people seeking to study chemistry for a degree. In contrast in recent times applications to study physics have shown a slight increase. The study of chemistry at university provides an excellent education that is a basis for life-long learning. An education through chemistry can lead to a whole range of highly paid careers providing the student has a good academic training in chemistry plus a wide range of inter-personal and transferable skills. Chemists in the UK have a long and successful record of achievement in a wide range of areas outside of chemistry.
Today there remain many opportunities for chemistry graduates to gain employment as chemists.
BSc graduates are still in demand by industry. It is true that many of the older companies such as ICI have a much smaller work force than in former times but many new companies have been started and these smaller enterprises can often offer a wider range of experiences to a new graduate than the larger older firms. I do not have an answer to the problem of decline in the numbers interested in studying chemistry at university. One point I am sure about. The universities must not blame the schools and the schools must not blame the universities.