Mathematics and Physics Careers Outlook
According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, employment of mathematicians is expected to decline through 2014. The future in math and physics will not change much within the next few years, particularly for those whose education background is solely in mathematics. Those who also study related disciplines, such as statistics, computer science, or other types of applied mathematics will find more opportunities in areas like computer programming, operations research, and engineering design. Mathematicians may also find employment in industry and government.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the outlook in physics employment is not good. Lately there has been an oversupply of Ph.D. physicists looking for work and a continued slowdown in civilian physics-related basic research. Competition is also strong for math and physics research jobs in colleges and universities and other centers of research. However, defense-related research funded by the government is likely to increase over the next decade. These trends will result in slower than average growth in the employment of physicists and astronomers through 2014.
A physics education is good preparation for jobs in information technology, semiconductor technology, and other applied sciences, but job titles are likely to be computer software engineer, computer programmer, engineer, and systems developer, rather than physicist.
Related Career Fields:
Related Career Cluster:
- Accountant and Auditor Career
- Assessors and Appraisers
- Computer Programmers
- Computer Systems/Programmer Analysts
- Credit Analysts
- Financial Planners
- Forensic Accountants and Auditors
- Marketing Research Analysts
- Mathematics Teachers
- Operations Research Analysts
- Optical Engineers
- Tax Preparers
For More Information:
- Accounting Careers
- American Institute of Physics
- American Mathematical Society
- Association for Women in Mathematics
- Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics