Are environmental scientist job opportunities growing or declining?

Are jobs in this industry on the rise? Are there any sub-sectors that are growing?

Where are the jobs? Which places have the most environmental scientist opportunities?

Host said: Are jobs in this industry on the rise? Are there any sub-sectors that are growing?

Where are the jobs? Which places have the most environmental scientist opportunities?

They are declining. worst in over 20 years. Decline began in Bush years due to cuts in oversite spending. What you see happening in the Gulf w BP reflects the "coziness" that has developed with all regulated industry and the pervasive lack of oversite and compliance nationwide. Getting the EPA to respond to real issues is a non starter. if you speak "non compliance" its considered inappropriate. With over 20 years of diverse experience, I am working barely above minimum wage because there are so few jobs.

Must still be declining. I have a degree plus 40 hour HAZWOPER and still can't find an entry level job after 2 years!! I have sent resumes to nearly every environmental company I could find in 3 states and daily search for openings. Is anyone else having the same problem or am I just unlucky??

Even most entry level positions require at least a year's experience! I never thought it would be so ridiculously hard to find an entry level job.

it is hard for this degree

and things are harder here in the midwest, you need to network with the people who know people in your interest area, I guess good luck let me know I have also been looking I dont understand what is going on maybe just things are picking inches at a time

I meant picking up inches at a time. Indiana should be better then Ohio. Have you thought of Minnesota or North Dakota. Broaden your scope.

You might try and get an internship with a company in your area. Some times it can turn into something. Make sure you have in your classes what companies want, some of the environmental degrees are weak(my opinion). You also need to know what you want to do that is reflected in the material you send an employer. However, I think some companies are in a freeze until they feel comfortable.
Definitely keep looking especially something for the summer.

They are tough in Texas unless you are lower level. Too many people entered the field prior to the recession and now they have no place to go.

I have heard nothing over the past 5 months in my job search. I have about 25 apps in between state agencies and private companies spread across Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. I have a military background and environmental health and safety experience along with an AA in management, an AAS in munitions, and a BS in environmental science (with honors magna cum laude). From the other posts it sound like the jobs market is getting pretty bad, good luck with everyone in their search.

me in indiana in Fort Wayne, Indiana said: Must still be declining. I have a degree plus 40 hour HAZWOPER and still can't find an entry level job after 2 years!! I have sent resumes to nearly every environmental company I could find in 3 states and daily search for openings. Is anyone else having the same problem or am I just unlucky??

Even most entry level positions require at least a year's experience! I never thought it would be so ridiculously hard to find an entry level job.

You're not the only one. I've applied for jobs in several states and haven't heard anything form most of them. On top of that a lot of entry level positions are now requiring more experience than should be necessary because they know they will get more experienced people to take the lower level pay (Thank you dwindling economy).

I also can not find an environmental job. I graduated the University with Master degree in Environment Scince. I was looking for the job almost 4 years. I gave up because i did not receive any respond on my resumes, even sorry but you are not a right candidat or, something simular.

me in indiana in Fort Wayne, Indiana said: Must still be declining. I have a degree plus 40 hour HAZWOPER and still can't find an entry level job after 2 years!! I have sent resumes to nearly every environmental company I could find in 3 states and daily search for openings. Is anyone else having the same problem or am I just unlucky??

Even most entry level positions require at least a year's experience! I never thought it would be so ridiculously hard to find an entry level job.

I have 3 1/2 years of experience, 2 of which are project oversight for the EPA, all of the required OSHA trainings, I'm looking to relocate and I can't find anything even entry level. I've been looking for over a year now. The job that I managed to land 2 years ago lowballed me on salary by about $14k when compared to the mean entry level salary for the area. Its rough man. Really rough.

The consulting industry has a glut of very qualified folks, and even they are working on the cheap or without a pay raise, so trying to break in is tuff allover. I think things will turn around and never underestimate the power of networking and internships.