Degrees Least Likely to Secure You a Job
- Criminal Justice graduates face the highest levels of underemployment, at 71.5%
- Performing Arts graduates rank second, facing underemployment rates of 65.9%, Art History graduates rank third, with an underemployment rate of 62.3%
- Leisure & Hospitality, and Liberal Arts courses round out the top five
Despite the dropping claims for state unemployment benefits within the US labor market, jobs are becoming more scarce and, with a presidential election coming up, a new study has revealed the degrees that are least likely to lead to a job within America.
Conducted by the higher education research group Degreechoices, the study analyzed 2022 data from the New York Fed to assess underemployment rates – specifically, the proportion of graduates working in roles that typically don’t require a college degree – as well as unemployment rates for recent college graduates.
Additionally, the research examined the median wages for each college degree, comparing early-career graduates (ages 22 to 27) with mid-career graduates (ages 35 to 45).
Criminal Justice graduates face the highest levels of underemployment, at 71.5%, and an unemployment rate of 2.8%. For those graduating with a Criminal Justice degree, people in their early careers can anticipate a median wage of $41,000. Folks settling into their mid-career can look forward to a median wage of $70,000.
In second place is Performing Arts. Graduates of this major face an underemployment rate of 65.9%, which is higher than the top-ranking entry on this list: 5.5%. The median wage for Performing Arts graduates in their early careers is $38,000, and $64,000 in their mid-careers.
In third place is Art History, with an underemployment rate of 62.3%. Art History degree graduates also face the highest levels of unemployment at 8.0%. Early-career graduates with an Art History degree can expect a median wage of $41,000, while mid-career graduates can look forward to a median wage of $72,000.
Ranking fourth is Leisure and Hospitality, with an underemployment rate of 57.6%. This major also has an unemployment rate of 4.1%. Early-career Leisure and Hospitality graduates have a median wage of $39,700 and a mid-career median wage of $67,000.
Liberal Arts rounds up the top five, with an underemployment rate of 56.7%. They also have an unemployment rate of 7.9%. The median salary for early-career graduates with a Liberal Arts degree is $38,000, and the median salary for mid-career graduates is $65,000.
Top 10 degrees that lead to the highest underemployment rates:
| Rank | Major | Under-employment Rate (%) | Unemployment Rate (%) | Median Wage Early Career ($) | Median Wage Mid-Career ($) |
| 1 | Criminal Justice | 72 | 2.8 | 41,000.00 | 70,000 |
| 2 | Performing Arts | 66 | 5.5 | 38,000.00 | 64,000 |
| 3 | Art History | 62 | 8 | 41,000.00 | 72,000 |
| 4 | Leisure and Hospitality | 58 | 4.1 | 39,700.00 | 67,000 |
| 5 | Liberal Arts | 57 | 7.9 | 38,000.00 | 65,000 |
| 6 | Animal and Plant Sciences | 56 | 1.6 | 41,000.00 | 70,000 |
| 7 | Fine Arts | 56 | 7.9 | 40,000.00 | 68,000 |
| 8 | Miscellaneous Technologies | 55 | 6.4 | 50,000.00 | 80,000 |
| 9 | Business Management | 54 | 3.2 | 50,000.00 | 78,000 |
| 10 | History | 54 | 7.5 | 40,000.00 | 70,000 |
A spokesperson for Degreechoices commented on the findings: “This research highlights the importance of understanding the career prospects associated with different college degrees. With Criminal Justice graduates experiencing the highest levels of underemployment at 71.5%, it is crucial for students to be informed about potential job market challenges they may face upon graduation.
“This data can provide valuable insights to both prospective students and educational institutions, helping them make more informed decisions about educational paths and career planning. With a better understanding of which degrees have the highest rates of underemployment, teachers and educational support staff could offer more targeted support and resources for graduates in fields with higher underemployment rates.”
ENDS
If using the story, please credit and link to https://www.degreechoices.com/blog/majors-with-highest-and-lowest-underemployment/
Sources:
- U.S. Census Bureau
- American Community Survey (IPUMS)
- U.S. Department of Labor
- O*NET.
Notes:
Figures are for 2022. Unemployment and underemployment rates are for recent college graduates (that is, those aged 22 to 27 with a bachelor’s degree or higher), and median wages are for full-time workers with a bachelor’s degree only. Early career graduates are those aged 22 to 27, and mid-career graduates are those aged 35 to 45. Graduate degree share is based on the adult working-age population (that is, those aged 25 to 65) with a bachelor’s degree or higher. All figures exclude those currently enrolled in school. Data are updated annually at the beginning of each calendar year.
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
