The weekly discussion around physics careers arrives amid rapid realignment in skills, training pathways, and demand signals. This week’s quantitative snapshot shows AI roles absorbing a sizable share of new physics PhDs, graduate programs bracing for fewer seats, and school-level teacher shortages threatening the long-term talent pipeline. It also highlights where momentum lies, from quantum information science hiring to outreach that measurably builds career skills. Use these numbers to calibrate your next steps and post your questions for the community.

Key Takeaways

– Shows AI absorbs nearly 1 in 5 working physics PhDs from the 2024 cohort, while 1 in 12 bachelors enter AI development roles. [1] – Reveals almost 1 in 4 bachelor’s graduates and 2 in 5 doctorates routinely use AI tools on the job, underscoring cross-sector demand. [1] – Demonstrates departments expect a 13% drop in first-year grad enrollment in fall 2025, led by a 25% private and 7% public decline. [3] – Indicates England’s teacher gap affects 700,000 pupils; 12,000 miss A-level physics, needing 3,500 specialists and £120m over ten years. [5] – Suggests outreach participation, quantified in a 5,000+ person survey, boosts communication, belonging, identity, and career skill development. [4]

How AI is reshaping physics careers

AI is now a mainstream destination for new physics talent. Among physics PhDs who entered the workforce in 2024, almost 1 in 5 took jobs in AI development, while 1 in 12 bachelor’s graduates did the same, indicating AI’s outsized pull relative to many traditional sectors for early-career physicists. These shares place AI among the most visible cross-disciplinary employers, and they continue to grow as tools and models spread through research and industry workflows. [1]

The shift is not only about job titles; it is also about day-to-day practice. Nearly 1 in 4 physics bachelor’s graduates and 2 in 5 doctorates report routinely using AI tools at work, a strong signal that AI literacy is becoming a baseline skill rather than a niche advantage. That integration spans model building, data analysis, automation, and operations support in labs and startups alike. As AIP’s analysts note, exposure to AI is now part of the standard professional environment for physicists. [1]

For jobseekers, that means differentiating between “AI-enabled” roles and “AI-development” roles when planning training, projects, and portfolios. The data suggest an expanding perimeter where physics problem-solving and computational fluency meet machine learning and software engineering. Structuring capstone projects around model evaluation, interpretability, or physics-informed ML can help you capitalize on this demand signal visible in the 2024 entrant cohort. [1]

Quantum hiring pathways and resources for physics careers

Beyond AI, quantum information science and technology stands out in 2025 as a major growth lane for physicists. The APS Careers Guide 2025 emphasizes QIST’s expansion and the need for inclusive workforce growth across research, hardware, software, and systems integration, and urges students and jobseekers to leverage APS resources, including the job board and webinars for practical guidance aligned to employer expectations. The guide’s release coincides with the International Year of Quantum, underscoring sector-wide momentum. [2]

For candidates, the guide highlights the versatility of lab skills, device fabrication, cryogenics, measurement, and error mitigation, as well as industry-facing competencies like reliability engineering, systems testing, and teamwork in interdisciplinary teams. Departments are encouraged to use the guide to enrich advising, and jobseekers can use it to map coursework and internships to near-term hiring needs in quantum startups, established vendors, and national labs tracking rapid hiring cycles. [2]

Graduate program contractions and implications for physics careers

Departments expect fewer graduate seats this fall, with first-year physics and astronomy enrollment projected to drop 13% in 2025, a contraction that could ripple through research groups and teaching assistant work patterns. Private programs forecast a 25% decline, while public programs expect about 7%, according to department chair surveys conducted April 3–16. Chairs also warn of potentially larger declines in 2026, citing ongoing uncertainty around federal funding and its knock-on effects on offers and stipends. [3]

For students deciding between entering graduate school now or waiting, the data carry two messages. First, competition for funded slots may intensify in the near term, especially in private institutions with steeper expected cuts. Second, some departments may rebalance research portfolios and TA allocations, altering the experience mix for incoming cohorts. These changes could influence how quickly students can access certain subfields or experimental resources, making program-by-program due diligence essential. [3]

Applicants should also watch how departments communicate funding security and cohort sizes through late spring and summer cycles. If 2026 flows worse than 2025, waitlists could move less, and deferral policies may tighten. Conversely, fields with countercyclical industry demand—like quantum engineering or AI-enabled instrumentation—might still expand lab or project capacity through industrial collaborations, even as central enrollment shifts. Keep track of updates in official department sites and APS announcements. [3]

Outreach participation boosts career skills and belonging

A national survey of more than 5,000 respondents provides quantitative evidence that participating in informal physics outreach correlates with stronger physics identity, communication skills, sense of belonging, and career skill development. The authors recommend departments adopt outreach broadly to diversify learning experiences and to strengthen student confidence and employability. For early-career physicists, this points to an accessible way to build presentation and teamwork competencies that hiring managers repeatedly seek. [4]

The signal is practical: structured outreach—mentoring, demonstrations, school visits, and public talks—offers measurable gains that complement lab and coursework, with benefits showing up in both self-efficacy and collaborative skill sets. As programs adjust to enrollment declines and budget constraints, integrating outreach into for-credit or co-curricular pathways can deliver high-impact training without expensive infrastructure, while also strengthening community ties and future recruiting pipelines. [4]

Teacher shortages threaten the future physics pipeline

The UK data underscore a pipeline risk with long-term consequences for physics careers. In England, a quarter of state secondary schools lack a dedicated physics teacher, affecting about 700,000 pupils and resulting in an estimated 12,000 students missing out on A-level physics. The Institute of Physics analysis calls for 3,500 extra specialists and a £120 million investment over ten years to stabilize provision. Compounding the challenge, 44% of new physics teachers leave within five years. [5]

If left unresolved, shortages at this scale can dampen university-level physics intake and narrow socioeconomic access to advanced STEM tracks. For employers, the medium-term impact is fewer physics-trained candidates, particularly from underrepresented regions. For universities, intensified bridging and foundation efforts may be needed to offset uneven preparation among incoming cohorts. Policymakers and departments can collaborate with schools to support enrichment, teacher training pipelines, and retention strategies to protect future talent flows. [5]

Outlook 2024–2026: signals to watch in physics careers

Two timelines matter now. First, the 2024 workforce entrant data show AI’s immediate pull on PhDs and growing tool-use among bachelor’s graduates, shaping skill premiums in hiring. Second, graduate program expectations point to tighter 2025 intake and potential 2026 turbulence, which could shift advisor matching, time-to-degree, and funded project availability. Candidates should pair short-term skill-building in AI and quantum with careful program fit assessments across multiple institutions. [1][3]

At the K–12 level, England’s shortage figures should prompt stakeholders elsewhere to audit their own teacher pipelines and retention patterns, given the global competition for physics educators. If similar attrition or coverage gaps appear, university outreach and teacher training partnerships can buffer the path to A-level equivalents and undergraduate physics enrollment. The combined AI demand, quantum growth, graduate contraction, and school-level pressure define the 24–36 month context for strategic planning in physics careers. [5][2][3]

Action checklist for physics careers: students, jobseekers, and departments

– Build AI literacy now: complete at least one physics-informed ML project and document model validation and limits to match rising workplace tool usage. [1] – Target QIST skills: align lab courses with hardware, cryogenics, and error mitigation; use APS job board and webinars for employer-aligned preparation. [2] – Hedge graduate admissions risk: apply across funding models, ask about cohort sizes, TA lines, and 2026 contingency plans before accepting offers. [3] – Operationalize outreach: seek roles that involve public demos or mentoring; treat communication deliverables as portfolio assets for interviews. [4] – Strengthen the pipeline: volunteer with schools and support teacher partnerships; departments can co-develop enrichment that increases A-level readiness. [5] – Calibrate timing: if you can boost AI or quantum credentials within six months, weigh entering the job market before or alongside grad applications. [1][2]

Sources:

[1] APS News – Recent physics grads are no stranger to AI: www.aps.org/apsnews/2025/09/aip-report-recent-grads-ai” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>https://www.aps.org/apsnews/2025/09/aip-report-recent-grads-ai

[2] American Physical Society – Careers Guide 2025: www.aps.org/career-resource/careers-guide” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>https://www.aps.org/career-resource/careers-guide [3] APS News – US physics departments expect to shrink graduate programs: www.aps.org/apsnews/2025/04/physics-departments-shrink-graduate-programs” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>https://www.aps.org/apsnews/2025/04/physics-departments-shrink-graduate-programs

[4] arXiv (preprint) – Impact of Outreach on Physics Student Development: Quantitative Results from a National Survey: https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.09874 [5] The Guardian – Quarter of schools in England lack a physics teacher, analysis finds: www.theguardian.com/education/2025/sep/02/quarter-schools-england-lack-physics-teacher” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/sep/02/quarter-schools-england-lack-physics-teacher

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