OBJECTIVE. The AmericanCollegeof Radiologysoughtto detailthe initial employment experienceof 1996diagnosticradiologyandradiationoncologygraduates, theactualeffectof factors expected to generate poor employment outcomes, and trends since 1995.MATERIALSAND METHODS. In autumn1996,questionnaires weremailedto all gradu ates; 69% responded. The results were compared with a similar survey of 1995 graduates.RESULTS. After graduation, 3â€"10% of graduates, depending ontheirfield(diagnostic radiol ogy or radiation oncology) and level (residency or fellowship). spent some time working as a locum tenens, working outside their field, or unemployed. However, by a year after graduation, working outside one's field and unemployment had virtually disappeared, even among graduates unable or unwilling to relocate. The Professional Bureau of the American College of Radiology was the most widely used majorjob search method and drew relatively favorable ratings. At least 15â€"22% of graduates in posttraining employment had, and disliked, one or more of I I job char acteristics many observers regard unfavorably. Most commonly, the graduates' objection was to having too few patients to remain busy. Relatively poor job outcomes were associated with hay ing a spouse who had to find a job in the same locality as the graduate (only salaries were im paired)butnotwith otherlocational constraints. with inadequacy of a majoraspect ofthe training program(as reportedby the graduate),and with being female. Changes from 1995 were few. and median salaries were approximately the same as in 1995.CONCLUSION. The employmentsituationis basicallystable.but salariesseemto be lagging behind inflation. Female graduates' poorer employment outcomes are worrisome, es pecially because studies of women in other professions generally find. unlike our study, that women start their careers even with men.