13 ms·
Just want to point out that the job market is not neccisarily 'bad'. There was a huge period of growth in the post WWII era as the university ecosystem expanded
by lbhnact 12y ago
Just want to point out that the job market is not neccisarily 'bad'. There was a huge period of growth in the post WWII era as the university ecosystem expanded with the economy, continuing along later with the boomers' expectation that their children do as they did. Now we live in a post-boomer, globalized economy where the low hanging fruit has all been plucked.
That's not 'bad', more likely just the new normal.
- twblalock 12y agoI was referring specifically to the academic job market, which is about as bad as it has ever been. In humanities disciplines, there are hundreds more graduates than jobs every year.
- lbhnact 12y agoI was referring to academics specifically. While I agree 'bad' isn't an unfair way to feel about the market, I would say it's because expectations have been set by boomer mentors (in their 50s and 60s) that graduated into a job market that was expanding and could absorb them. Now we have hit equilibrium, and there isn't demand for people who study Foucault, Jung, or build a career around authors from 1850-1950 anymore. The gig is up, and graduating from anything other than a the most famous names just want get you a job anymore. Not 'good' or 'bad', but certainly 'is', for better or worse.
- lbhnact 12y agoI was referring to academics specifically. While I agree 'bad' isn't an unfair way to feel about the market, I would say it's because expectations have been set by boomer mentors (in their 50s and 60s) that graduated into a job market that was expanding and could absorb them. Now we have hit equilibrium, and there isn't demand for people who study Foucault, Jung, or build a career around authors from 1850-1950 anymore. The gig is up, and graduating from anything other than a the most famous names just want get you a job anymore. Not 'good' or 'bad', but certainly 'is', for better or worse.
- lbhnact 12y agoI was referring to academics specifically. While I agree 'bad' isn't an unfair way to feel about the market, I would say it's because expectations have been set by boomer mentors (in their 50s and 60s) that graduated into a job market that was expanding and could absorb them. Now we have hit equilibrium, and there isn't demand for people who study Foucault, Jung, or build a career around authors from 1850-1950 anymore. The gig is up, and graduating from anything other than a the most famous names just want get you a job anymore. Not 'good' or 'bad', but certainly 'is', for better or worse.