Is "Urban Planner" One of the Best Careers of 2011?

As one planner puts it, "Why are you doing this to us???

Every time you people at US News and World Reports rank this career in your top 50, I cringe. I wish you would stop telling all of these young people that this line of work is so freakin' great, with lots and lots of future job opportunities."

The comments are thoughtful and detailed, as in this writer:

"As a practicing planner for five years I am lucky to have gotten through grad school and locked in a position before the bust. That said, there is a lot of anxiety in the public sector with budget cuts and the younger planners on the chop block as the last in the door. Some places are better than others, but especially on the coasts and the rust belt, today's grads will find a very challenging environment."