Computer engineering graduates had an unemployment rate of 7.5%
Graduates in computer engineering are facing surprisingly high jobless rates—more than twice that of art history majors—according to the latest figures from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
While art history majors show an unemployment rate of just 3%, computer engineering grads are experiencing a 7.5% rate. Computer science isn’t far behind, with 6.1% of its graduates out of work.
The pattern of higher-than-expected unemployment seems to extend across a number of STEM fields. Graphic design majors are seeing 7.2% unemployment, fine arts at 7.1%, and chemistry at 6.1%. Even physics majors, often considered highly employable, are at 7.8%, while sociology—often viewed as a softer science—clocks in at 6.7%.
The outlier at the top is anthropology, with a staggering 9.4% unemployment rate. On the opposite end, nutritional sciences graduates have almost full employment, with just 0.4% out of work.
Asked about the unexpected trend, Mark Perry, emeritus professor of economics at the University of Michigan-Flint, suggested that tech-focused fields like computer science might be oversaturated or facing competition from non-traditional candidates.
“One explanation is that CS grads are going head-to-head with self-taught programmers, bootcamp alumni, and holders of associate degrees who have practical experience,” Perry told The College Fix. “Plus, many employers in tech expect specific certifications that recent grads might not yet have.”
Alex Beene, a financial literacy educator at the University of Tennessee at Martin, echoed those concerns in an interview with Newsweek.
“People are often shocked to see high unemployment for computer science majors because it’s been marketed as a can’t-miss path for years,” he said. “But graduating in a popular field doesn’t guarantee job-readiness. As businesses seek more specialized skills and demonstrated results, fresh grads may find themselves hitting a wall—especially now, as some firms cut hiring.”
Still, not all STEM degrees are facing such headwinds. Perry pointed out that most branches of engineering are weathering the job market well.
“Almost every engineering major—civil, mechanical, aerospace, chemical, electrical, you name it—has an unemployment rate of 2.4% or lower,” he said via email. “They also tend to earn high salaries and have lower underemployment, around 20%, which is quite good.”
However, Nicole Smith, chief economist at Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce, pointed out that liberal arts graduates often come out ahead in one key area: adaptability.
“Even though STEM degrees are in high demand, the core skills developed by liberal arts students—like communication, critical thinking, and flexibility—can make them more immediately marketable,” she said. “Undergrad STEM programs often don’t go far enough in preparing students for the real-world application employers need.”