New study reveals the most employable and unemployable degrees in the US
4 min read
Picking a college major can feel like a life-defining decision. The good news? It doesn’t have to be a shot in the dark. While your passion matters, practicality plays a huge role in shaping your career and job stability.
The most employable degrees in the US
1. Nursing
With just 1.3% unemployment and 11.1% underemployment, nursing stands out as the gold standard for job security. With the demand for healthcare professionals showing no signs of slowing down, nursing remains a safe and rewarding career choice.
2. Industrial Engineering
Boasting an almost non-existent unemployment rate of 0.2%, this major is a slam dunk for job seekers. The underemployment rate is higher at 24.6%, but the field offers diverse opportunities in a fast-paced, high-tech world.
3. Elementary Education
Teachers at the elementary level enjoy stability with only 1.5% unemployment and 13.5% underemployment. If you want to shape young minds, this is a solid career path with longevity.
4. Construction Services
Building America, literally. With a mere 0.4% unemployment rate, construction services is booming, though 28.6% underemployment suggests opportunities are sometimes outside a graduate’s specialty.
5. General Education
With unemployment at 1.5% and underemployment at 19.6%, education remains a reliable field for those drawn to teaching across grade levels.
6. Mechanical Engineering
Engineers of all kinds are in demand, and mechanical engineering is no exception. A 1.5% unemployment rate paired with a 20.3% underemployment rate makes this a strong contender for anyone with a knack for problem-solving.
7. Civil Engineering
Building bridges, literally and figuratively, civil engineers enjoy a 1.9% unemployment rate and a manageable 15.9% underemployment rate.
8. Computer Engineering
Technology is king, and computer engineering’s 2.3% unemployment rate reflects that. Underemployment is just 13.3%, making it one of the most future-proof degrees.
9. Early Childhood Education
Want to make a difference early in life? With unemployment at 1.9% and underemployment at 18.2%, this field offers stability for compassionate educators.
10. Secondary Education
Teaching teenagers may not be easy, but it pays off with a 1.6% unemployment rate and 22% underemployment.
The least employable degrees in the US
On the flip side, some majors don’t lead to the career stability students hope for.
1. Fine Arts
With 8% unemployment and a staggering 62.3% underemployment, Art History graduates often find themselves far from their desired career path.
2. Liberal Arts
Creative, yes. Secure, not so much. This major has a 7.9% unemployment rate and a 55.5% underemployment rate, leaving many graduates in unrelated roles.
3. Art History
Broad in scope but narrow in job prospects, Liberal Arts faces a 7.9% unemployment rate and 56.7% underemployment.
4. Performing Arts
A 65.9% underemployment rate underscores the difficulty of turning a passion for performance into a sustainable career, despite a lower 5.5% unemployment rate.
5. History
With 7.5% unemployment and 53.5% underemployment, History majors often find themselves piecing together career plans that don’t align with their studies.
List of majors and their unemployment/underemployment rates for recent graduates:
| Rank | Major | Unemployment Rate | Underemployment Rate | Final Score |
| 1 | Nursing | 1.30% | 11.10% | 91.54 |
| 2 | Industrial Engineering | 0.20% | 24.60% | 91.06 |
| 3 | Elementary Education | 1.50% | 13.50% | 88.41 |
| 4 | Construction Services | 0.40% | 28.60% | 86.87 |
| 5 | General Education | 1.50% | 19.60% | 84.37 |
| 6 | Mechanical Engineering | 1.50% | 20.30% | 83.91 |
| 7 | Civil Engineering | 1.90% | 15.90% | 83.74 |
| 8 | Computer Engineering | 2.30% | 13.30% | 82.39 |
| 9 | Early Childhood Education | 1.90% | 18.20% | 82.22 |
| 10 | Secondary Education | 1.60% | 22.00% | 82.01 |
| 11 | Chemical Engineering | 2.00% | 17.80% | 81.72 |
| 12 | Accounting | 1.80% | 21.00% | 81.14 |
| 13 | General Social Sciences | 0.60% | 39.80% | 77.92 |
| 14 | Special Education | 3.20% | 12.10% | 76.26 |
| 15 | Miscellaneous Education | 2.50% | 20.60% | 76.02 |
| 16 | Miscellaneous Engineering | 2.20% | 26.20% | 74.62 |
| 17 | Medical Technicians | 0.40% | 47.90% | 74.09 |
| 18 | Electrical Engineering | 2.90% | 20.90% | 72.74 |
| 19 | Business Analytics | 2.50% | 28.50% | 70.78 |
| 20 | Information Systems & Management | 2.30% | 31.20% | 70.53 |
| 21 | Finance | 2.70% | 29.10% | 68.85 |
| 22 | Pharmacy | 3.40% | 23.50% | 67.17 |
| 23 | Architecture | 3.30% | 25.10% | 66.88 |
| 24 | General Engineering | 3.10% | 28.00% | 66.50 |
| 25 | Geography | 1.90% | 42.00% | 66.46 |
| 26 | Computer Science | 4.30% | 16.70% | 64.75 |
| 27 | Mathematics | 3.40% | 27.60% | 64.46 |
| 28 | Engineering Technologies | 2.50% | 41.40% | 62.24 |
| 29 | Treatment Therapy | 2.50% | 41.80% | 61.98 |
| 30 | Health Services | 2.20% | 46.90% | 60.91 |
| 31 | Chemistry | 2.80% | 40.90% | 60.26 |
| 32 | Animal and Plant Sciences | 1.60% | 56.30% | 59.30 |
| 33 | Earth Sciences | 1.90% | 53.10% | 59.11 |
| 34 | Advertising and Public Relations | 2.80% | 43.90% | 58.28 |
| 35 | Miscellaneous Biological Science | 2.30% | 50.70% | 57.62 |
| 36 | Public Policy and Law | 2.30% | 51.30% | 57.22 |
| 37 | Biochemistry | 3.20% | 41.30% | 56.92 |
| 38 | Family and Consumer Sciences | 3.10% | 43.80% | 56.04 |
| 39 | Social Services | 4.40% | 28.90% | 55.90 |
| 40 | Theology and Religion | 3.20% | 44.10% | 55.07 |
| 41 | Overall | 3.60% | 39.50% | 55.04 |
| 42 | Economics | 4.10% | 34.90% | 54.24 |
| 43 | General Business | 2.80% | 51.80% | 53.05 |
| 44 | Marketing | 3.00% | 49.50% | 53.03 |
| 45 | Biology | 3.40% | 47.10% | 51.54 |
| 46 | Interdisciplinary Studies | 3.50% | 46.00% | 51.50 |
| 47 | Miscellaneous Physical Sciences | 4.50% | 35.80% | 50.57 |
| 48 | Nutrition Sciences | 3.90% | 45.00% | 49.09 |
| 49 | Agriculture | 3.70% | 47.70% | 48.84 |
| 50 | Business Management | 3.20% | 53.60% | 48.78 |
| 51 | Foreign Language | 3.40% | 53.40% | 47.37 |
| 52 | Philosophy | 4.10% | 47.30% | 46.03 |
| 53 | Journalism | 4.70% | 41.80% | 45.05 |
| 54 | Anthropology | 4.50% | 45.30% | 44.27 |
| 55 | Ethnic Studies | 4.60% | 45.80% | 43.17 |
| 56 | Political Science | 4.80% | 45.70% | 41.70 |
| 57 | Environmental Studies | 4.50% | 50.10% | 41.10 |
| 58 | Physics | 6.20% | 31.20% | 40.53 |
| 59 | Commercial Art & Graphic Design | 6.00% | 33.70% | 40.42 |
| 60 | Criminal Justice | 2.80% | 71.50% | 40.00 |
| 61 | Communications | 4.70% | 50.40% | 39.36 |
| 62 | Leisure and Hospitality | 4.10% | 57.60% | 39.21 |
| 63 | International Affairs | 5.10% | 46.90% | 38.60 |
| 64 | Aerospace Engineering | 7.80% | 17.90% | 37.04 |
| 65 | Psychology | 5.40% | 48.40% | 35.30 |
| 66 | Sociology | 5.50% | 49.60% | 33.73 |
| 67 | Mass Media | 6.30% | 47.70% | 28.84 |
| 68 | English Language | 6.60% | 48.40% | 26.07 |
| 69 | Miscellaneous Technologies | 6.40% | 54.80% | 23.37 |
| 70 | Performing Arts | 5.50% | 65.90% | 22.94 |
| 71 | History | 7.50% | 53.50% | 15.77 |
| 72 | Fine Arts | 7.90% | 55.50% | 11.37 |
| 73 | Liberal Arts | 7.90% | 56.70% | 10.57 |
| 74 | Art History | 8.00% | 62.30% | 6.09 |
The least-regretted college majors:
| Major | Percentage of Graduates that Regret the Major | Main reason(s) |
| Computer science/math | 13% | Stressful industry, limited job opportunities |
| Business | 16% | Too general |
| Engineering | 16% | Best jobs require advanced degrees |
| Health admin/assisting | 18% | Low job satisfaction |
| Community/family/personal services | 19% | Low pay, strict licensing requirements |
| Health sciences/technologies | 19% | Low job satisfaction |
| Repair/production/construction | 19% | Male-dominated, hard to find high-paying job w/o more education |
| Engineering technology/drafting | 20% | Hard to find jobs w/o experience |
| Architecture | 21% | Economic vulnerability, skill obsolescence due to tech |
| Philosophy/religion/theology | 24% | Skills not valued in the workplace |
The most-regretted college majors:
| Major | Percentage of Graduates that Regret the Major | Main reason(s) |
| English/foreign language | 42% | Impractical Limited job opportunities |
| Sciences | 35% | Hard to find a job w/o further studies or licenses |
| Education | 31% | Low pay and job satisfaction Limited job opportunities |
| Social sciences/law | 29% | Too general, impractical Hard to find job w/o further studies |
| Communications | 27% | Too general |
| Ethnic/area/multidisciplinary studies | 26% | Impractical Limited job opportunities |
| Visual/performing arts | 25% | Stressful industry Limited job opportunities |
| Philosophy/religion/theology | 24% | Skills not valued in the workplace |
| Agriculture/natural resources | 24% | Limited job opportunities/mobility |
| Architecture | 21% | Economic vulnerability Skill obsolescence due to tech |
Methodology
The study examined the job market for recent college graduates, focusing on the unemployment and underemployment rates across different majors.
The study aimed to identify which majors had the lowest and highest rates of unemployment. To create the final ranking, both factors were considered, with unemployment given a 60 per cent weight and underemployment a 40 per cent weight.
Additionally, the study ranked the least and most regretted major choices and the reasons behind the regrets.
