May 23, 2012
Believe it or not, there are college degrees out there with almost 0% unemployment! One the other hand there are so many degrees out there with high unemployment rates.
Most of us dream about what we’re going to be when we grow up, but once you graduate from high school and head to college, those dreams change. Especially after the first semester or year of college, many students either realize that the courses they need to take for the degree are too challenging (ie, if you want to teach physics, but you struggle with math) or they just change directions with a new interest.
Either way, when you’re choosing your degree, take a certain amount of time to evaluate the current economy, past trends and growth of the profession.
According to CNN Money, these are the degrees that have negligible unemployment rates:
1. Actuary Science (What is it?) – An actuary is basically supposed to predict the future, estimating future risks and costs. Being able to do that well is so valuable to a company.
2. Astrophysics – The study of astrophysics and planetary science, take complex scientific information and out it into public vernacular.
3. Pharmacology – Pharmacology is medically relevant — studying the interaction of drugs and the body — and offers the opportunity to do cutting edge research. (Requires a Master’s degree)
4. Geophysics – The energy industry is just grasping at straws for people with geophysics experience. Large energy companies are not getting enough qualified students from American universities. (Requires Master’s degree).
You can reference the full article detailing what 4 students are doing with their degrees and how they arrived at their career.
Similarly, there are several degrees with very high unemployment rates. According to CBS News, here are some of the most popular degrees with the highest unemployment rates:
- 1. Clinical psychology 19.5%
- 2. Miscellaneous fine arts 16.2%
- 3. United States history 15.1%
- 4. Library science 15.0%
- 5. (tie) Military technologies; educational psychology 10.9%
- 6. Architecture 10.6%
- 7. Industrial & organizational psychology 10.4%
- 8. Miscellaneous psychology 10.3%
- 9. Linguistics & comparative literature 10.2%
- 10. (tie) Visual & performing arts; engineering & industrial management 9.2%
- 11. Engineering & industrial management 9.2%
- 12. Social psychology 8.8%
- 13. International business 8.5%
- 14. Humanities 8.4%
- 15. General social sciences 8.2%
- 16. Commercial art & graphic design 8.1%
- 17. Studio art 8.0%
- 18. Pre-law & legal studies 7.9%
- 19. Materials engineering and materials science and composition & speech (tie) 7.7%
- 20. Liberal arts 7.6%
- 21. (tie) Fine arts and genetics 7.4%
- 22. Film video & photography arts and cosmetology services & culinary arts (tie) 7.3%
- 23. Philosophy & religious studies and neuroscience (tie) 7.2%
- 24. Biochemical sciences 7.1%
- 25. (tie) Journalism and sociology 7.0%
But look, TxMQ focuses in the IT and Engineering fields and we see very low unemployment rates in our fields as well. So if you’re looking for a new position or you’re looking to fill an opening at your company, we have the resources to place the best candidate with the best employer. Email me today if you’re looking for a job or a candidate! Wendy@txmq.com.
Have a great day!
