The status of radiation oncology training programs and their graduates in 1999

To keep the profession apprised of current trends in the job market, the American College of Radiology (ACR) studied the employment situation of 1999 radiation oncology graduates and the status and plans of radiation oncology training programs.

During mid-April to the beginning of June 1999, the ACR surveyed all radiation oncology residency directors about the employment situation of their residency and fellowship graduates, changes in their programs, and incoming trainees. Eighty-four percent (74/88) responded. We compared current findings to those of similar surveys conducted over the 1995-1998 period and report statistically significant differences (p < or = 0.05.

Directors responded that as of the survey date, 88% (71/81) of all residency graduates had secured commitments for a position, about the same as reported throughout the 1995-1998 period. Planned and accomplished changes in residency program size since 1993 will reduce the annual number of beginning residency slots by approximately 33. This represents about a 20% decrease in the number of graduates relative to the 160 typical during the early 1990s. Residency directors' perceptions of the job market were optimistic, with 40% viewing the market as "somewhat" or "much" better than in recent years vs. 13% viewing it as worse, much as in 1998. On average, directors viewed 1999's residency applicants as, if anything, somewhat better than those who had applied one or three years earlier.

Directors' perceptions of graduates' job prospects remain optimistic, and the employment situation remains the same as in past years, when reported unemployment was approximately 1%-2% or less by six months after graduation.