Will Rite Aid Closing Be Another Loss In Our Failing Economy?

Several years ago, pharmacy jobs, especially retail, were a dime a dozen. You could literally get ill at your supervisor and decide to leave and have another job along with a nifty sign on bonus the next day. I'm not so sure that is the current state of things here. I keep getting more and more news stories of Walgreens buying up Rite Aid stores. Remember Rite Aid was the pharmacy that bought JC Penney's Eckerd in the hope of competing with the bigger and more lucrative Walgreens and CVS. I fear if Rite Aid DOES close, at least HERE anyway, things in the pharmacy market will become more grim. Instead of a pharmacists' market, it will become the opposite. It makes me want to cling to my current job with everything I have, and it's all due to news and our economy. Walgreens to Acquire 12 Rite Aid Locations

Rite Aid Feels Walmart Pressure (another reason I do not like Wal-mart)

15 Companies That May Not Survive in 2009 (Rite Aid listed)

You Lucky Pharmacist You

How are you doing out there fellow pharmacists in an economy that is slowing down? Are your jobs secure? Do you have any fear of being laid-off or losing your job? Do you feel content where you are? On the plus side, it's easy to see how pharmacists and other medical personnel will more than likely be in demand. People continue to age and grow sick. People still need us. Perhaps they'll need us more? However, I am reading from fellow classmates that retail pharmacy is taking a bit of a hit as far as hours the stores are open. I hear that even Walgreens is shortening their hours and therefore not offering as much hours to their current staff. I'm not for sure if this is true, but things are slowing and slowing.

How slow will the grow and how much will it affect us? I'm not so sure that we couldn't find something else if we HAD to versus my husband who could not. That in itself is a good reason to sit and consider how lucky we are to be pharmacists right now. People need us. Even in bad times.

Update:  Three Years Later

I have always wanted to do this and spend the time to tell you how the pharmacy market has changed over time.  Yes, we were right.  Now there are so many pharmacy schools and pharmacy students graduating that the jobs have all but dried up.  You can't find a job.

How sad is that?