REAL percentage of pharmacists who are unemployed

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Parklife

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I use to think that most - not all of the people who are unemployed pharmacists are just in a really saturated market or the bottom 5% of their field who are in a sucks-to-suck-should've become-a-nurse situation.

Apparently it's not the case. I can only find two sources.



They say lawyers have 1.5% unemployment. I don't trust this site..
http://20somethingfinance.com/top-20-jobs-with-the-lowest-unemployment-rate/

http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/pharmacist


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What is close to the real percentage of unemployed pharmacists? Do we expect that number to go up, or do we expect grads to move to where there are jobs?

Members don't see this ad.
 
1st article is over a year old. 2nd one is probably about right. Here's another source (just ignore the whole article though, as pharmacy isn't really a "college major"): http://finance.yahoo.com/news/10-best-college-majors-for-a-lucrative-career.html

The article cites 5.4% unemployment rate for recent grads. I think that sounds about right, at least if surveying people a few months after graduation, not before or right after. Some of the employed pharmacists temp or work part time though.
 
I am one unemployed pharmacist here, graduated last year, licensed. Right now, going back to school for a PhD.
 
Members don't see this ad :)
I am one unemployed pharmacist here, graduated last year, licensed. Right now, going back to school for a PhD.

Did you have work experience during school? Were you willing to relocate? Are you in an "impacted" metro area?
 
Did you have work experience during school? Were you willing to relocate? Are you in an "impacted" metro area?

If you look at the pharmD/phD thread, he answer 'yes' to all of those questions. I think we're still before the tipping point if there even is going to be one at all. Networking, experience, flexibility, and persistence are key. But mostly persistence :smuggrin:
 
I use to think that most - not all of the people who are unemployed pharmacists are just in a really saturated market or the bottom 5% of their field who are in a sucks-to-suck-should've become-a-nurse situation.

Apparently it's not the case. I can only find two sources.



They say lawyers have 1.5% unemployment. I don't trust this site..
http://20somethingfinance.com/top-20-jobs-with-the-lowest-unemployment-rate/

http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/pharmacist


--

What is close to the real percentage of unemployed pharmacists? Do we expect that number to go up, or do we expect grads to move to where there are jobs?

1. Given that the national unemployment rate is 8.2%, I'd say 5% isn't bad.
2. There's no way to predict what will happen with the job market long term, least of all by gathering anecdotal "evidence" on SDN.
 
Bear, what kind of work experience did you have? As of now, I'm kind of scared b/c I have no pharmacy work experience under my belt :(. and I've been trying two years to get a job.
 
1. Given that the national unemployment rate is 8.2%, I'd say 5% isn't bad.
2. There's no way to predict what will happen with the job market long term, least of all by gathering anecdotal "evidence" on SDN.

1. Bad comparison. Those 8.2% do not have a an extensive college education or student loans. So yes 5% is still bad.

2. Yup
 
Also, how many new grads are working only part time or per diem because there are no other positions out there. I think that should be a factor too. I, for one, have only seen per diem openings or part time in my area.
 
1. Given that the national unemployment rate is 8.2%, I'd say 5% isn't bad.
2. There's no way to predict what will happen with the job market long term, least of all by gathering anecdotal "evidence" on SDN.

Are you kidding me, 5 % is not bad with a pharm D degree and 6 figures in the red? Are you trying to compare it to the national average ?
 
1. Bad comparison. Those 8.2% do not have a an extensive college education or student loans. So yes 5% is still bad.

Source? I didn't know they parsed the data down that way. Would love to see it.
 
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Glad to see that HotMD's account is on hold....*****.
 
So one's SDN account can be put on hold for completely lacking sense of humor?

I am pretty sure you are unaware of the history associated with that person. This is not the first time he/she/it/thatthing has posted on the pharmacy forums.
 
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