<p>The general trend in the humanities is that there are several hundred applicants for each position. Many, many more PhDs graduate than there are jobs, and the number of unemployed PhDs obviously rises each year. There isn’t a lot of movement, since profs retire later than many other occupations and, once tenured, have a guaranteed job for life. There are a few exceptions in the humanities, like history of the Middle East or sub-Saharan Africa, but otherwise it is most definitely oversupplied.</p>
<p>I know many unemployed PhDs who have exceptional resumes and have applied everywhere. Even the undesirable jobs have many applicants these days. And, of course, there’s always the consideration that taking a very bad job is not necessarily better than being unemployed. Some positions have very toxic departments, no opportunities for spouses, and work overloads that prevent the person from producing enough to ever leave for a better job.</p>