Astronomy academic/research jobs:Really that hard to get?

[Krandor]

I have read lots of comments talking about how hard is to get tenure or goverment-funding research positions. Okay, but how hard is it? Perhaps some statistical info about it? From what I've heard, there are around 6k astronomers in the usa. Let's asume half of them are working in the industry. That leaves quite a small job environment for astronomy

 

[Vanadium 50]

A professor will graduate maybe 10 students in his career, only one of whom is needed to replace him. That's the starting point.

 

[jesse73]

A professor will graduate maybe 10 students in his career, only one of whom is needed to replace him. That's the starting point.

It is actually worse than this since 10 would be around the minimum. Some professors with large research groups graduate much more.

 

[Vanadium 50]

And some graduate fewer. The point is not that the odds are 10.00000%.

 

[MathAmateur]

Most people who study astronomy end up as engineers or programmers. At our company we hire a lot of University cast offs.