After 4 or more years of studying and thousands of dollars spent on a college degree, the goal of all that effort and money is to have a job after graduation. A recent report by the Burning Glass Institute shared that more than half of the graduating class of 2023 found themselves working jobs that didn’t even require their degree a year after graduating. That’s a bit deflating.
It turns out some majors are more predisposed to gainful employment than others. A variety of factors can contribute to this outcome such as, the number of students pursuing the same major, market conditions at the time of graduation and now for example, the impact of AI (artificial intelligence) shaping the future of a given line of work. It pays to know before, not after obtaining your degree, if you are going to have the ability to find work in your field. This allows you to use that information to guide your decision of what to study in college.
Currently the national unemployment rate is 4.2% according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The current unemployment rate for recent graduates is 4.8%, which is higher than the national average. Students with degrees in some majors fared better than the national average with lower unemployment rates, while others were worse. We will highlight the majors with the highest and those with the lowest unemployment rates to show you both extremes. If you don’t see your major listed below, you can check the full report here.
Majors with the Highest Unemployment Rates
These are the jobs you might want to be wary of pursuing, at least right now. They have unemployment rates higher than both the average for recent graduates as well as the national average.
Anthropology – 9.4%
An anthropologist studies human cultures and societal communities and tries to understand behavior. They work in academia, government agencies and non-profits primarily. Their work can inform decisions for public health, organizational psychology or environmental conservation projects.
Physics – 7.8%
Physicists work with the laws of nature and the universe and use that understanding to create technologies to solve scientific and technological problems. They typically work in academia and government roles conducting research, teaching, and in some instances developing new technologies.
Computer Engineering – 7.5%
As implied in the title, computer engineers work to enhance computers by developing hardware and software products across a variety of industries. They create components, systems and processors to facilitate a number of automated needs.
Commercial Art/Graphic Design – 7.2%
Commercial artists, sometimes called graphic designers create visuals to be used to communicate a brand, marketing or promotional message. They use a variety of tools and mediums when creating digital and print designs that can then be displayed on the internet, in print ads or printed on other media such as clothing or products.
Fine Art – 7%
Fine artists create visuals that could be used in a number of applications. They could be artists, illustrators, graphic designers or photographers. They make work for a creative agency (such as in advertising), for a company (as an in-house artist) or for their themselves.
Sociology – 6.7%
Sociology is similar to Anthropology in that both study human behavior, a sociologist focuses on societal structure and function and how change effects institutions and interactions. Careers for this major include social worker, counselor or case manager.
Computer Science – 6.1%
Whereas computer engineering creates software and hardware, computer science looks more at applications for software, algorithms and studying AI (artificial intelligence) and data computations. Software developers, web developers and data scientists most likely studied computer science.
Chemistry – 6.1%
Chemistry is a very open-ended major. At a very high level chemists study matter (physical substances) to understand it’s composition, structure and properties and to test reactions in different scenarios. Chemists work in healthcare, in industries such as pharmaceuticals and manufacturing as well as research.
Majors with the Lowest Unemployment Rates
If any of the below majors interests you, you might want to consider studying one of these fields in college. These majors have some of the lowest unemployment rates, with most students being able to find a job in their desired careers after graduation.
Nutrition Services – 0.4%
If you study nutrition services, you’ll learn about food, health, and how to help people make better choices to stay healthy. Careers include being a dietitian, nutritionist, or working in public health to create programs that improve community wellness.
Construction Services - 0.7%
This major teaches you how to plan, manage, and build structures like homes, offices, and roads. You could work as a construction manager, building inspector, or even start your own construction business.
Civil Engineering – 1%
Civil engineering is all about designing and building things like bridges, roads, and water systems. With this degree, you could become a civil engineer, urban planner, or work in environmental engineering to make cities better places to live.
Special Education – 1%
This major focuses on teaching and supporting students with disabilities. Careers include being a special education teacher, school counselor, or working as a behavioral therapist to help kids succeed.
Animal and Plant Sciences – 1.1%
In this major, you’ll study animals, plants, and how they grow and interact with the environment. You could work as a zoologist, agricultural scientist, or even a conservationist protecting wildlife and ecosystems.
Early Childhood Education – 1.3%
This major prepares you to teach and care for young children, usually from birth to age 6. Careers include being a preschool teacher, childcare center director, or working in child development programs.
Nursing 1.4%
Nursing is about helping people stay healthy and caring for them when they’re sick. With this degree, you could become a registered nurse (RN), work in pediatrics, or specialize in areas like emergency care or surgery.
Aerospace Engineering – 1.4%
This major is all about designing and building aircraft, spacecraft, and satellites. Careers include being an aerospace engineer, working in space exploration, or even designing drones and other flying technology.
Don't just limit your decision to unemployment rates, salary expectations are important too. While Early Childhood Education might have low unemployment, it’s also known for low salaries. Conversely, if you can get a job in Computer Engineering or Science, the odds are pretty good you will be making a decent salary.
Be sure to consider all aspects of a career before committing to a major, unemployment rates are important for sure, but salary, location and other aspects you personally find meaningful should be taken into consideration as well.