The numbers you're quoting are not particularly encouraging indicators of a strong job market... 61% of pathologists find a job within 6 months of looking? That's...horrible.
But more importantly, I don't know why people (mostly trainees) jump to anecdotal numbers of graduating fellows who find "a job" as the final barometer of job market quality. There are numerous metrics you should be considering on top of this simple binary question- like, are they actually good jobs? Are they in places people want to live? Is the starting salary competitive? Signing bonus? Years to partner?
I am one of the recently graduated "successful" pathologists you're referencing here. But what your 92%+ statistic doesn't capture is that I had to move literally 1000 miles away from my family to get the job, I earn below the current median salary for family practice, have a 4 year partner track, and my signing bonus + year end bonus combined were lower than my monthly student loan payment. I literally had a higher bonus as chief resident. Those are not features of a robust job market.
You are right that the majority of path jobs are "word of mouth", but what you're not recognizing is that word of mouth jobs exist in every single field. It's only by virtue of Pathology's epically anemic market and autistic professional persona that the word of mouth jobs are the prevailing type of recruitment tool.
Honestly the most telling thing that happened to me during my 7 month-long spirit quest for a job during fellowship was when a medical recruiter called me after seeing my CV because in her 10 years as a medical recruiter she had never even heard the word "pathologist". She didn't have a job for me, she was just curious what we do and wanted me to explain it.
It looks like you figured out why I am out here trying to correct misconceptions about the field. Some people say, oh well, it sucks, and other people say, wait a second, if you are a normal person and put your best foot forward, you will be able to do what you love, not get burnt out, have a comfortable salary--266k on average, up to 333k on average for multispecialty private practice-- (pathologists are in the top 2 specialties for feeling "fairly compensated" (Pathology: A Satisfying Medical Profession, Xu and Remick, 2016), AND have a hobby or two. I'm trying to let the upcoming generation know that big changes are coming in pathology and now is the time to get in! If you like technology, biochemistry, genetics, if you are a visual person, if you like radiology but enjoy things more on a cellular level - check it out! Within the decade we will be converted to digital systems with image recognition software, immediate sharing of images. We will be getting away from scopes and into AI. Don't underestimate pathology - it's not going anywhere - it still forms the backbone of hospital diagnostics, cancer diagnostics, blood tests, etc.
I give my anecdotal numbers in support of what the research shows. The research conducted shows that most are finding jobs they are satisfied or very satisfied with (The Recent Pathology Residency Graduate Experience: A Synthesis, by Gratzinger, Powell, etc. 2017).
If you want to point at the 61%, go ahead. I already mentioned that only takes into account people who still have several months left before the end of residency, and on average, I would venture to guess that the average pathology resident doesn't really do much networking to find jobs beyond asking people in their own residency programs. So a little effort goes a long way. May I ask, did you opt to take a job in a large city? Demand is greatest in smaller cities.
To be in-demand as a pathologist, do a fellowship in surg path and a fellowship in cyto, (and be competent, ethical, etc.) and you are a candidate for the largest number of job openings.