The types of positions that physicists accept to start their careers are evaluated through a survey conducted by the American Institute of Physics. It is suggested that the economic recession and declining job market has had an effect on the transition from a physics education to the start of a career. The amount of time spent by 1977-78 physics degree recipients in securing employment is tabulated as well as changes in occupational status of physics and astronomy degree recipients, characteristics of physics and astronomy doctorate recipients, employment status of doctoral physicists 6-l8 months after graduation, factors influencing the length of postdoctoral fellowships, employment of doctoral-level physicists, background characteristics and employment status of physics masters, characteristics of physics masters and bachelors that influence time required to secure employment, and employment of astronomy bachelors. The results of the survey indicate that the majority of physics graduates at all three degree levels secured employment within two months after graduation. It is also indicated that almost 85 percent of the physics doctorate recipients who start employment with a potentially permanent position classify their work as physics-related. A total of two percent of physics graduates at each degree level were found to be unemployed and seeking employment. (SF)