The "Worst Academic Job Market in a Generation"? Time to Come Up with a Plan

We all know the academic job market has been terrible for well over a decade. We all thought the story couldn’t get much darker. But here we are: multiple outlets, including The Chronicle of Higher Education, are saying that the situation is even worse now. The reasons aren’t mysterious—increasing dependence of universities on inexpensive, contingent faculty labor; ongoing defunding of higher education; combined with accelerating political attacks on universities, especially under the Trump administration.

If You’ve Been on the Market for a While

Here’s the hard truth: the longer you’ve been on the academic job market without landing a position, the harder it becomes. Most tenure-track hires come from candidates within just a few years of finishing their PhD. After that, departments start reading your “time on the market” as a weakness—even when you’re publishing, teaching, and excelling. It’s unfair, but it’s real.

That doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means the system is broken. But it does mean it’s time to think seriously about a pivot. You have bills to pay (including, likely, student loans), retirement to save up for, and need to have consistent health insurance. It's time to prioritize taking care of yourself.

If You’re Just Entering the Market

If you’re new to the market, by all means—try. Put your best materials forward, lean on your networks, and see what’s possible. But do it with eyes open and with a backup plan in place. Seriously, according to a 2015 study, less than approximately 13 % of PhDs receive a tenure-track job. You need to have an alternative plan.

And let me be clear: I’m not hating on the academic job market or on anyone still chasing that path. I know what it means to want it, and I was lucky enough to land a tenure-track position within four years of earning my PhD. (That said—I also ultimately chose to leave that role, and that’s a story for another time...) The point here isn’t to dismiss academia outright, but to be honest about the structural challenges and to help you prepare with eyes wide open. Additionally, I'm sharing my experience not to discourage you, but to underscore that I’ve been on both sides of this. I know how much it can mean to spend years chasing a role you passionately want, and I also know what it’s like to recognize that it may not be the career—or the life—you can have or want long term.

The Bigger Picture: It’s Not Just Academia

I wish I could say the non-academic job market is wide open and welcoming. The reality is, it’s not. Companies are nervous about the economy, unemployment is creeping up, and AI is now flooding hiring pipelines with applications. That means you’re competing not just with other job seekers, but also with algorithmically generated resumes and cover letters.

None of this is meant to discourage you. It’s meant to help you get clear-eyed about the landscape so you can create a strategy that protects your time, your energy, and your future.

A Framework for Building Your Career Plan

Think of this as a map. You don’t have to follow it perfectly, but you do need to move intentionally if you want to avoid feeling stuck.

Step 1: Clarify Your Priorities

• What skills do you actually enjoy using? (Not just the ones academia told you were valuable.)

• What kind of life do you want to build—geographically, financially, personally?

• What are your “must-haves” (healthcare, salary, location) and your “nice-to-haves”?

Step 2: Face the Data

• Look at placement stats for your field. Who is getting hired, and where?

• Pay attention to time-to-hire trends: most tenure-track hires are made within 1–3 years post-PhD.

• Compare that to industry data: what skills are most in demand right now?

Step 3: Build Parallel Tracks

• Academic track (if you’re still pursuing it): Keep your application materials polished, and work your network like crazy.

• Non-academic track: Start drafting resumes (not CVs), networking with professionals outside of academia, and testing out new career paths through informational interviews. (I love an informational interview -- please do not sleep on utilizing them.)

Step 4: Translate Your Skills

Speak in a language that people outside of academia can understand:

• Research = data analysis, project management, independent initiative.

• Teaching = communication, facilitation, leadership.

• Writing = persuasive communication, grant/report writing, thought leadership.

• Service = organizational strategy, event planning, people management.

Step 5: Expand Your Network

• Connect with alumni who’ve left academia.

• Use LinkedIn to follow industry conversations in areas you’re curious about.

• Don’t be afraid to reach out for 20-minute “career story” chats—most people are happy to share, especially with an offer of free coffee or lunch.

Step 6: Check In Regularly

• Every 3–6 months, pause and ask: Is my current strategy moving me closer to a stable job?

• If not, what needs adjusting? Fewer applications, more networking? Or a bigger pivot?

Step 7: Protect Your Well-Being

• Set boundaries: decide how many applications you’ll send per week.

• Schedule real downtime.

• Create or join a group of others who are also on the job hunt for support and resource-sharing.

• Remember: this is not about personal failure. It’s about surviving a structurally broken market.

Bottom Line

This isn’t about giving up on your dreams. It’s about making sure your career is sustainable, that you’re not stuck in an endless holding pattern, and that you’re taking care of yourself along the way. Academia may be contracting, but your skills, your perspective, and your labor still matter.

© 2025 Marya T. Mtshali. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the author.