Figure 2. Initial employment of physics Ph.D.'s, 1979–2012
Graduating class	Postdoc	Other temporary position	Potentially permanent position	Unemployed
1979	45	–	54	1
1980	41	–	58	1
1981	45	–	54	1
1982	43	–	54	3
1983	48	–	50	2
1984	49	–	49	2
1985	51	–	47	2
1986	64	–	34	2
1987	63	–	36	1
1988	61	–	37	2
1989	65	–	34	1
1990	67	–	30	3
1991	60	6	30	4
1992	61	10	24	5
1993	62	12	20	6
1994	60	9	26	5
1995	53	5	38	4
1996	41	7	48	4
1997	43	8	47	2
1998	43	6	49	2
1999	44	5	49	2
2000	43	5	49	3
2001	47	5	46	2
2002	59	7	32	2
2003	66	5	26	3
2004	67	5	25	3
2005	58	8	29	5
2006	60	8	28	4
2007	57	6	33	4
2008	54	8	34	4
2009	59	6	30	5
2010	61	8.5	28	2.5
2011	57	8.5	31	3.5
2012	54	10	31	5
NOTE: In 1991, the survey questionnaire was changed to measure "other temporary" employment as a separate category. Data are limited to Ph.D.'s who earned their degrees from a U.S. university and remained in the United States. SOURCE: American Institute of Physics, Statistical Research Center.