New study reveals the most employable and unemployable degrees in the US

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. 

To help students and parents navigate these choices, researchers at MyExcelOnline analyzed unemployment and underemployment rates to identify the most and least employable degrees in the US.

Nursing emerges as the most employable major in the U.S., boasting an impressively low unemployment rate of 1.3% and an underemployment rate of 11.1%.

Engineering majors dominate high-employment fields. Majors like Industrial, Mechanical, and Civil Engineering offer excellent job prospects, with unemployment rates as low as 0.2% for Industrial Engineering.

Education fields show strong career stability. Elementary, Early Childhood, and Secondary Education all rank in the top 10 for employability, underlining the steady demand for teachers across various grade levels. Unemployment rates in these fields remain low, hovering between 1.5% and 1.9%.

Arts and Humanities struggle with employability. Majors like Art History, Fine Arts, and Liberal Arts face significant challenges in the job market, with unemployment rates nearing 8% and underemployment rates exceeding 55%.

Underemployment is a crucial metric for career success. The study emphasizes underemployment as a key factor alongside unemployment. Degrees with high underemployment rates, such as Performing Arts (65.9%) and Art History (62.3%), indicate limited opportunities to work in roles that fully utilize one’s qualifications.

Majors with fewer job opportunities, like Social Sciences and Communications, tend to have higher regret rates.

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.

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.