Unemployment and underemployment in 1996 graduates of New York City gastroenterology training programs.
OBJECTIVE
Based on anecdotal reports of young gastroenterologists facing extreme difficulty in finding a job, we sought to gain information about the success of newly trained gastroenterologists in finding employment in their subspecialty, and to find any possible predictors of unemployment.


METHODS
We surveyed all fellows finishing basic or advanced gastroenterology fellowship training in New York City in June 1996. Data were collected on unemployment, underemployment (practicing less than half-time gastroenterology), and also type of job, employment terms, training program, medical school, gender, and satisfaction with job plans.


RESULTS
Of the 59 study subjects who sought gastroenterology employment in the United States, data were collected on all of them (100%). Fifteen subjects (25%) were unemployed. An additional 10 subjects (17%) were underemployed. Of the 24 subjects expecting to be associates in a group practice, eight (33%) had either no signed contract, were underemployed, or both. Programs that did not participate in the National Residency Matching Program were more likely to have both unemployed and underemployed graduates.


CONCLUSIONS
Unemployment among newly trained gastroenterologists in New York City is very high. Also, there is substantial underemployment, and this phenomenon needs to be taken into account when studying the workforce.
David
J
J
Department of Medicine, Harlem Hospital Center--Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10037, USA.
Mogilner
A
A
Ozick
L A
LA
D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D005544:Forecasting; D005762:Gastroenterology / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D009519:New York City; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000600:supply & distribution; D011331:Private Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D011365:Professional Practice Location; D014478:Unemployment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D000078329:Workforce