Physics is "hot", Physicists are "not"

I had an odd conversation during the lunch-yap (the obligatory conversation during the lunch, somehow we grown-ups cannot eat quietly; neither lunch nor dinner, we have to talk about something while serving hypoglycemia (hunger)) about Physics vs Physicist. My colleague, who has established himself in Physics, academically (unlike me) threw this at me. He said, unlike the era up to 80s, where pursuing Physics meant something, being a Physicist was not only honor but was also more like 'being in demand', today it is not the same for Physicist. Many top IIT-JEE rank holders used to pursue integrated M.Sc. Physics, especially at the christened mecca, IIT Kanpur and the dejected but still in the top 100 or 200 ranks would run pillar-to-post to at least go for BTech in Engineering Physics. The ones who did not go for IITs, would still pursue Physics somewhere. Physics was hot and so were Physicists, back then. Unfortunately, today the situation is not the same.

The essence of this small-talk goes like this...

Physics, though still a charming subject for many, an intriguing intellectual exercise for select few and a caged animal for certain lot which unleashed brings havoc, Physicists are nothing more than a social pariah in the world of occupations. Many physicists are finding it hard to get jobs, especially if they are Theoreticians. Experimentalists are in demand, but for a short term projects etc. in Univ or Research Organization. The ideal job for a Physicist is to join a University or College as an Assistant Professor to begin with his career. And there is the main problem. Apart from academics, Physicists have no other place in the world of economics. To make a living in an ideal way, where the time he/she spent in gaining valuable insight about nature's mysteries, a physicist has to work only as a teacher. 

 The same might not be the story with other sciences. I mean, Chemistry is the most sought after subject followed by Biology. Chemists with B.Sc. are hired as sales rep in pharma companies, ones with M.Sc. are hired as R & D officer or analyst and with PhD-Post Doc, definitely as Sr. Researcher or Scientists in Govt as well as Private Organization. So apparently there is lot of scope.

Biologists, incidentally might not be lucky enough right after B.Sc., but after M.Sc. they do have lot of scope in private as well as Govt concerns. Some of the pharma companies, alcohol manufacturing companies, food processing firms, quality control required with consumables, designing bio-degradable goods and as such require biologists from various sections. There are many labs catering to medicine tests on animals to human trials that need biologists with knowledge of diagnostics processes & protocols. Even Architects require botanists for designing landscapes. From simple diagnostics to high end research in govt organizations to private labs, a biologists will not have a hard time finding a job of some kind. 

The first and only job that we can think of some one who is Mathematician is Academics. They do have now scope in Academics across a spectrum of specialization such as Economics, Biology, Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Commerce, Arts & from school to high school to University. Apart from that, Mathematicians can find place in Govt organizations in the role of cryptographer, statistician, logician, analyst etc. and the same roles are for him/her in private sector too. World of computers and information technology do require mathematicians at more than one places. Mathematicians as an academic is the most sought after coach for various entrance exams such as MBA, UPSC, JEE and more. So he no longer has to be a teacher, but he can place himself in many different roles.

All the above science graduates have always the scope of being a teacher apart from other occupation. The main issue is, if not academia, the above graduates at different level, will always have some kind of job in which they can still do their subject.

What about Physicist? Is there a place apart from academia and that too in abundance where a Physicist can still do Physics? I mean a Physicist can do anything else, due to his analytical capability and skill. But where else a Physicist is invited to be a Physicist apart from Junior Colleges and Universities? I would not write such post, if this was not a serious situation for me, for my friends & for my colleagues. It is indeed true! Physics is a charming subject. Physicists are not, at least in the job sector. Though there is a weird saga attached to Physics. The charm of Physics is beyond academics. Ask anybody who has not even from science background, whether they know Einstein and the answer most often times will be in YES! But ask them about Jonas Salk (I have asked many of my students and biologists that I know, many did not know him), and many would have not heard about him, but he is the guy who invented Polio Vaccine. Ask any one about Alessandro Volta and even chemist might not nod, but he is the guy who invented battery. What is Einstein's contribution is debatable, but if you are not famous like Einstein or Hawking or Bose or Bohr, you are just an ordinary person. My friend argued that, being famous is not more important than having a job satisfaction. Agreed! But for job satisfaction too, one should get a job first. Life as Physicist is really not easy. Statistically many Physicists have a hard time, since all they can do is Academic Job, if they want to do Physics and only Physics. If one leaves Physics, he/she does have many options, but that is not the essence of this discussion.

So, physics is still hot, physicists are no longer. Am I right?