One scientist with whom I did a postdoc was supporting himself, the last I heard, by part-time substitute teaching in local schools. Another, after five years as a postdoc and two as a faculty member, was out of work completely for more than four years. Of all the people I met in my own considerable time as a postdoc, I don't know of anyone who has found a permanent position.
The response to this situation should be obvious: All departments should immediately begin to reduce the number of graduate students by at least 25 percent. All efforts should be made to inform students at all levels of the disastrous situation they are likely to get into if they pursue a career in science.
Since it seems that universities and other organizations are not going to do this, individual scientists should start a grass-roots campaign along these lines.
