Get All Access for $5/mo

Report: The Majority of Recent College Grads End Up in Jobs That Don't Need Bachelor's Degrees Two research companies looked at a dataset of 60 million Americans.

By Sherin Shibu

Key Takeaways

  • Two research companies looked at a dataset of 60 million people in the United States to see how recent college graduates fared on the job market.
  • The majority of grads from 2012 to 2021 said they were working in fields that did not require a degree.

Go to college, graduate, get a related job. A new report challenges the perception that an undergraduate education is needed to enter the workforce.

The Burning Glass Institute, a data research company, and the Strada Education Foundation, a talent research firm, released a study on Thursday that found the majority of recent college graduates, who got their Bachelor's degrees between 2012 and 2021 in the U.S, were not in a job that required their degree.

More than half of graduates (52%) were "underemployed," per the study, working in fields that did not require Bachelor's degrees to enter, such as food services, office support, sales, construction, and retail. Moreover, 73% stayed in those fields 10 years after graduation.

It is unclear how many hours worked per week were considered to be "underemployed" in this report.

Even though the typical college graduate performs better in the labor market than workers with high school diplomas, "a sizable share of graduates do not experience the economic outcome they expected from earning a bachelor's degree," the study stated.

College majors such as communications, journalism, psychology, and the visual and performing arts reported the highest levels of underemployment, while health professions, such as nursing, had the lowest underemployment rates.

Related: Starting a Business: How to Start a Business in 12 Steps

The report also showed that there are financial effects associated with underemployment. Recent grads employed at college-level jobs make a median of $60,000 annually, while underemployed grads make $40,000. Furthermore, underemployed grads were found to take home $8,000 more per year than high school grads, who make a median salary of $32,000.

The researchers used 2022 data and determined median earnings by looking at workers who were employed full-time, year-round, or working at least 35 hours per week and 50 weeks per year and not enrolled in school.

Unlike high school grads, though, underemployed grads still shoulder an average debt of $34,700 for their degrees.

Related: I Was Broke, Unemployed, and In Serious Debt During the Pandemic. Here are 6 Steps I Took to Make 6-Figures

The study presented the hope that quality guidance for college students, access to clear employment outcomes, and access to paid internships in college could help bridge the gap.

Sherin Shibu

Entrepreneur Staff

News Reporter

Sherin Shibu is a business news reporter at Entrepreneur.com. She previously worked for PCMag, Business Insider, The Messenger, and ZDNET as a reporter and copyeditor. Her areas of coverage encompass tech, business, strategy, finance, and even space. She is a Columbia University graduate.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Leadership

Visionaries or Vague Promises? Why Companies Fail Without Leaders Who See Beyond the Bottom Line

Visionary leaders turn bold ideas into lasting impact by building resilience, clarity and future-ready teams.

Marketing

5 Critical Mistakes to Avoid When Giving a Presentation

Are you tired of enduring dull presentations? Over the years, I have compiled a list of common presentation mistakes and how to avoid them. Here are my top five tips.

Science & Technology

5 Automation Strategies Every Small Business Should Follow

It's time we make IT automation work for us: streamline processes, boost efficiency and drive growth with the right tools and strategy.

Business News

Former Steve Jobs Intern Says This Is How He Would Have Approached AI

The former intern is now the CEO of AI and data company DataStax.

Side Hustle

'Hustling Every Day': These Friends Started a Side Hustle With $2,500 Each — It 'Snowballed' to Over $500,000 and Became a Multimillion-Dollar Brand

Paris Emily Nicholson and Saskia Teje Jenkins had a 2020 brainstorm session that led to a lucrative business.

Green Entrepreneur®

How Global Business Leaders Can Build a Sustainable Supply Chain

Businesses can build sustainable supply chains by leveraging technology to reduce environmental impact, optimize resources and track emissions while balancing operational efficiency and sustainability goals.