104. World crisis – looking for a job?

US unemployment claims surged to a 16-year high, government data showed Thursday, adding to growing alarm as companies worldwide shed workers in the global economic downturn.

Initial jobless claims soared to a seasonally adjusted 542,000 in the week ended November 15, the highest level since July 1992.
The weekly US jobless claims report by the Labor Department offered more evidence the world’s largest economy appeared to be sliding into a deep recession.

France Presse

Just a week ago the number of jobless hit 515000. According to the FED forecast, unemployment rate will reach 7.4% in November, highest in recent years. From the beginning of this year, Americans lost about 1.2 million jobs in total.

Do you, guys, want to discuss what is going to happen with jobs in science in forthcoming years? On Uncertail principles Chad Orzel is trying to develop the physics professor strategy for working under conditions of cut in science funding. So far, the strategy consists of two steps: 1) Back your students up and 2) Invest in your community.

Chad, I am afraid the forthcoming turmoil will wipe out not only students and many of us, postdocs, but some professors, too.