Recent graduates notoriously have trouble finding work in their field. Find out why there's a growing disconnect between college degree and career choice.
Sep 14, 2022
College used to be the gateway to the job of your dreams. And then it wasn't. It feels like over the last 20 years the college degree has lost the appeal and prestige it once held. And this isn't just anecdotal feelings on the matter. More than half of all college graduates over the age of 25 don’t work in their field of study. Their degree and career choice aren't connected.
The reasons why are varied. Some students simply can’t find work in their field after they graduate. Others can find work, but the pay is low. Then, there are others who simply change their minds after they turn their tassels.
While there are many factors behind this shift, one thing is clear... Universities and colleges are no longer the only paths to a profession. Increasingly, individuals are embracing different learning opportunities. They want to specialize in specific, marketable skills. They feel that focusing 4 years on studies may not benefit them down the road.
Exactly what led to this chasm between degree and career choice? And what does it mean for current and future students? Today, we’re taking a closer look and sharing the answers you need to know.
Little research is dedicated to the disparity between degree and career choice in the university graduate labor market. However, there have been some attempts to understand why it occurs.
In this study, researchers examined why a growing number of graduates hold jobs outside of their field of study. They broke the discrepancies into 4 major categorical outcomes:
Then, they investigated the different types of jobs that usually fall into each category. Take a look at some of the insights they discovered. Let's shed light on how these mismatches impact degree and career choice differently depending on the type.
The job aligns with the field of study
Researchers found that jobs requiring specific skill sets were the ones most likely to achieve an appropriate match. For instance, the following occupations have dedicated courses of study that students must complete before they can begin work:
While these arrangements are ideal, they aren’t common or practical for every line of work. And even for some of the fields mentioned above, the intense requirements can sometimes create strain on the hiring institutions. 89% of employers surveyed said that it’s difficult to find employees who possess the skills that they are looking for. And careers in medicine or engineering require a major investment of time and money before students join the workforce.
The job requires the same skill/education level, but is in a different field of study
Hard science degree examples include:
Some liberal arts degree examples include:
If you train to be a nurse, you will probably find work as a nurse. Your skillset is hyper-specific to that field. But there are jobs that require amore general skill set. These skills still hold high value across a variety of occupations. These careers are more likely to be horizontally mismatched. Degrees like Mathematics. Chemistry and Physics can hold a number of uses without becoming a physicist or a chemist. The same goes for Literature, History or Sociology, and Anthropology degrees.
Even with a specific understanding of these subjects, students are likely to find work in adjacent careers. For instance, someone majoring in chemistry might find work as a pharmacologist or a forensic scientist. Fewer and fewer chemistry majors become through-and-through chemists. With Liberal Arts degrees, we find many professors, writers, and museum or gallery curators. Is anyone a historian” anymore?
In this Job Mismatch and Labour Market study, horizontally mismatched graduates were paid less than if they were appropriately matched. That same study, however, also said that these graduates were making MORE than their co-workers who were appropriately matched. Seems like a paradox, but highlights a key truth... Having transferable skills is a huge asset, no matter your degree and position.
The job requires a higher or lower skill/education level, but is in the same field of study
In most cases of vertical graduate mismatch, graduates have a higher education level than their job requires. You’ve definitely heard the cliché line: you’re overqualified for this position.”
Many degree-holders take a position to keep a roof over their head, despite their more refined skill set. Researchers explained that fields such as business, management, and economics commonly fall into this category.
For example, a post-grad Econ graduate with dreams ofWall Street? They may take a local bank teller position to pay off student loans. In this case, they are extremely overqualified for the position, but it is still, technically, a position in their field. According to the Forbes report, about 40% of recent graduates fall into this category.
Often, this mismatch occurs because the number of new graduates entering the workforce overtakes the demand for new talent. All of the graduates are vying for the same positions in near-stagnant industries.
The job requires a higher or lower skill/education level and is in a different field of study
The stereotype of trained actors waiting tables between gigs comes to mind. As does the successful painter still clocking hours at a retail job. Or a musician at a desk job by day and playing at a jazz bar by night. The most concerning examples of incongruence exist when over-qualified graduates hold a job in a field outside of their major.
This isn’t a graduate's failure. It's not a student's fault if the education they’re receiving doesn't prepare them for the reality of a difficult industry.
When describing this category, researchers wondered if universities should offer these majors at all. Especially when most students were finding careers outside of the industries once they graduated. The study named biology, journalism, fine arts, social work, and labor relations among the most at-risk industries.
From a cultural standpoint, it makes sense why many fine arts and journalism students find themselves in different careers. Both industries have seen some form of cultural devaluation and are ruthlessly competitive. Biology, social work, and labor relations find themselves in similar boats. Are the industries or the education system to blame for the stagnancy? Universities and other higher education institutions should conduct further research to understand why such misalignment exists.
After investing in college, students are often shocked to find that they still can’t land jobs in their chosen field. Often, this isn’t due to a lack of technical expertise. It’s because a traditional college may only train them to know how to do job-specific tasks. They can lack the basic soft skills needed to find Career Success.
The top 4 general skills employers say that they want to see in graduates? According to this report, they include:
The college education system is failing to prepare students with these skills, and thus, for the real world. It's leaving them without skills that are necessary to land their first role after college. Or grow further in their career.
Universities and colleges often lean more heavily towards technical concepts instead of practical talents. This can make finding employment challenging even if you have all your qualifications. The problem becomes apparent once graduates enter today’s competitive job market. There may already be someone else who has a degree and understands the subtleties of the interview process. Or even the subtleties of the industry itself.
98% of provosts believe they prepare graduates for the working world. Meanwhile, only 10% of employers believe that colleges do an excellent job of getting them there.This may explain this discrepancy.
A lack of soft skills isn’t the only issue holding graduates back from finding success in their field. They’re also saddled with an enormous amount of debt, forcing them to start work as soon as possible.
The average student loan debt for a bachelor’s degree is $28,950. For graduate students, it jumps to $71,000. They might dream of securing a well-paying job that corresponds with their academic focus. But, the reality is, there are bills to be paid. And anything is better than nothing, especially as sky-high interest continues to accrue.
As tuition rates rise, we’re nearing a tipping point. Future earning potential may not be enough to overcome the debt that students are forced to shoulder. This is causing them to consider alternate jobs, even if they’re mismatched in their skill and education level.
At the time of writing this article, the U.S. government is in the process of "erasing $10,000 US in federal student loan debt for those with incomes below $125,000 a year, or households that earn less than $250,000..." This is a major step in helping ease the burden of student debt. While this could erase the debt of over 20 million Americans, many of the systemic sources of pain such as high tuition rates and guaranteed federal loans still exist. The same issues are bound to return unless the problem of student debt is addressed at the source.
Given these uninspiring job market statistics, how do students really feel about college? If we asked this question 3 years ago, the answer might have been very different.
Since the pandemic, there are 1 million fewer students enrolled in college. While many thought that the so-called pandemic gap” would only last a year, that proved to be untrue. Of the 2020 students that chose to eschew college after graduation, only 2% ended up enrolling later the following year.
Instead, those students decided to enter the job field, where their prospects were more certain. Unemployment is down, and there are jobs to be found.The number of teenagers who say they’re likely to attend a 4-year college has dropped from 71% to 51% over the past 2 years. In 2022, undergraduate enrollment was down 3.1% from the previous year.
It’s coming down to value vs. cost. Students are realizing that the high price of admission makes the traditional university model less appealing. Especially when the chances of finding a job in their narrow field of study after graduation is so slim.
Instead, many are deciding to enter into trade school programs right after high school. Or, they’re starting careers immediately, with plans to pursue additional training and education down the road, often with employer reimbursement. According to one survey, 73% of high schoolers think a straight path to a career is critical in post-secondary education. And nearly 40% have participated in programs centered on career exploration.
According to the same survey, half of all high-schoolers are no longer planning to attend 4-year colleges. And fewer than half think a 4-year degree is the only ticket to success. Instead, more than half would consider a path other than a 4-year degree. And one-third recognize that the pandemic has made them more comfortable taking this route. All very important items to note when understanding the growing space between degree and career choice.
What does all of this mean for students preparing to attend a college or university? Is it all doom and gloom or is there hope on the horizon?
Nope! There's hope, and here’s why.
More and more, students are beginning to consider that there’s more than one way to achieve their career dreams. Years ago, the path to your dream career was fairly linear. Now, there are more side roads and shortcuts than ever before, and many of them are viable options.Depending on YOUR goals.
This is especially true as jobs become more tech focused. There aren’t as many traditional degree programs designed to support them. Researchers predict that 75% of children now entering primary school will end up in jobs that don’t even exist yet.
Paired with rising tuition costs, this has made conventional higher education systems seem almost anachronistic for some degree choices. Especially when there are shorter, more affordable, and more career-connected pathways available.
Are you starting to feel that the growing distance between degree and career choice makes it not worth the time? If so, there are other solutions out there!
Uvaro takes a unique approach to Career Success. We offer a range of courses, workshops, and other resources designed to help you jumpstart your future. Our live, cohort-based online learning solutions are designed with specific jobs in mind. They can help you refine your skills, unlock your potential, and connect with others in your space.
The best part? Many take as little as 4-6 weeks and come with career support for life! This might be much different from what you’ll find at a university, but it’s time to rethink the status quo.
Download our Career Success Catalog to learn more about what we offer and how you can get started today. Your dream job could be closer than you think, so let’s discover it together!