Great thread! The Economic Policy Institute writes about this problem all the time. I come from a family of college professors, so I know how hard it is to secure research grants in Science just to hold on to your job. The jobs are scarce.

The media perpetuated the myth that engineering is the best most solid career. It's not. High school and colleges are pumping out STEM students. The majority of these students will not get a job on their field, or will have a very unstable career path, with lay offs etc. it's frightening.