There is an absolute glut of PHP positions right now, for both inexperienced and highly experienced developers.
You'll have to be extra-diligent about making sure the sources you're learning from aren't full of security holes, however.
You'll have to be extra-diligent about making sure the sources you're learning from aren't full of security holes, however.
If you want to see quality, look to the new generation PHP frameworks: Zend Framework 2, Symfony2, for example.
However, newer projects and startups are moving towards Python and Rails so if your goal is to be in that game, learn one of those.
There's an immeasurable amount of new work to be done in PHP. You have absolutely no numbers to back up your statement.
Moral of the story is, it's just whats in season this year. Some people will argue better languages, but really there are problems with all of them.