Now That He's Older, He's Last Year's News

I meant to get to this last week, but didn't because I'm lazy. Also, I have a dissertation to write, so cram it. But anyway, Brian Weatherson's tallied up tenure-track hires in the top-30 departments in the US last year. Thirteen junior hires overall. Of those, seven went to women and six when to guys. I've just followed up for the rest of the top-50, where another dozen junior hires were made. Seven guys and five women.

So for the top-50 departments in the US last year, 25 junior people got jobs. Whether you think that's good or bad's got to depend on your perspective. Compared to the bad old days in the 80s and 90s, it's got to look like a pretty good market. But for a grad student with pipedreams of working in a top-50 department someday? One job for every two states in the union doesn't make me feel good.

Unambiguously good news, though, is the near gender parity in junior hires--13 guys to an even dozen women. I'd be surprised if you found that rough parity in departments below the top-50, but these numbers are still encouraging. Maybe someday before I die philosophy won't be such a sausage party.