{
  "id": 17545,
  "title": "Job insecurity is chipping away at me and my cohort. Is it us, or the state of the economy?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/07/30/job-insecurity-is-chipping-away-at-me-and-my-cohort-is-it-us-or-the",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-07-30T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Nature",
    "slug": "nature",
    "url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-01843-8"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Job insecurity is taking a toll on researchers like me. In the past two years, I've been turned down for positions like senior research fellow, lecturer, and research funding manager. My one-year contract, extended to two and a half years, expires in three months. Each application feels like buying a lottery ticket, and every rejection feels personally devastating. I'm starting to question my worth as an academic. I know I'm not alone, as several friends and colleagues at my career stage are also searching for jobs with limited time left on their contracts. The stress is mounting, and I'm concerned about how to make ends meet once my contract ends. My relationship with my PhD supervisor has become strained, and I'm unsure what to do. Despite my impressive qualifications and accomplishments, I can't shake the feeling that my career is at risk. I believe it's not just a personal failing but a reflection of a broader systemic shift in academia. Stressors such as job insecurity, mental health issues, and funding cuts are contributing to this crisis. As a health psychologist, I want to offer coping strategies for those who are struggling with job insecurity.",
  "summary": "Nature, Published online: 30 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01843-8 The career market is difficult to navigate — and academic achievements feel like they’re no longer enough, says Daniella Watson.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}