The 10 Majors With The Lowest Unemployment Rates

Student Working In Office
Student Working In Office

Many Students don’t look at Unemployment Rates picking and deciding on a major after graduation. Those students are mismatched graduates who face poorer prospects and lower earnings than their peers who embark on careers that are a better fit for the knowledge and skills they have acquired through three or four years of study. It suggests that formal career advice isn’t working.

While it’s clear that a college degree helps one’s employment prospects, studies have shown that some degrees are in much higher demand than others. So to see which college majors boast the best employment numbers, StudySoup, a college learning community, decided to dig through the data to see which majors have the lowest unemployment rates for recent graduates.

 

10 Majors With The Lowest Unemployment Rates

 

10. Family and consumer sciences

Unemployment Rate: 2.8%
Underemployment Rate: 44.6%
Median Wage Early Career: $30,000

Family and Consumer Sciences involve managing and economics all community and home-based relationships, including their surrounding environment. As a result, this major can be a springboard for many industries, including education, nutrition and wellness, hospitality, and human development. The median salary for newcomers is only $30,000, but there’s a lot of room for growth; the average annual wage for experienced workers is $60,000.

 

9. Civil engineering

Unemployment Rate: 2.7%
Underemployment Rate: 18.7%
Median Wage Early Career: $54,000

Civil Engineering encompasses designing, constructing and maintaining everything from buildings to bridges. This rapidly expanding industry is expected to grow 11% by 2026. Civil engineers who stick with their careers can expect a median wage of $83,540 eventually.

 

8. Nursing

Unemployment Rate: 2.5%
Underemployment Rate: 12.8%
Median Wage Early Career: $50,000

Nursing is a critical part of the healthcare industry, and while it’s a competitive field, those with a nursing degree are in high demand. Moreover, the future looks equally bright, with registered nurses expected to increase by 15% over the next decade.

 

7. Secondary education

Unemployment Rate: 2.4%
Underemployment Rate: 25.6%
Median Wage Early Career: $34,500

This degree typically opens employment opportunities to teach at the high school level in public and private schools. While the starting median wage for graduates with a degree in Secondary Education may seem low, educators who build a career in Secondary Education can work toward an industry median wage of $58,030.

 

6. Early childhood education

Unemployment Rate: 2.1%
Underemployment Rate: 22.8%
Median Wage Early Career: $30,000

Those with a degree in Early Childhood Education are well-prepared for careers as preschool teachers, child care center directors, educational consultants, and other professional positions. Though Preschool teachers typically have low salaries, there is much room for salary growth at the kindergarten level. The median wage for all kindergarten teachers in the U.S. is $52,620, almost $24,000 more than the expected preschool teacher wage.

 

5. Nutrition Sciences

Unemployment Rate: 2.1%
Underemployment Rate: 50.1%
Median Wage Early Career: $36,000

Nutrition Sciences includes a long and diverse list of career opportunities, ranging from clinical dieticians to USDA positions. Of course, the path one takes will significantly impact their overall salary and career prospects. Still, overall, the unemployment rate looks very good for individuals majoring in Nutritional Sciences. For instance, experienced dieticians boast a median salary of $58,920.

 

4. Elementary education

Unemployment Rate: 2%
Underemployment Rate: 18.6%
Median Wage Early Career: $33,600

The Elementary Education field employs nearly 1.4 million individuals and includes qualified teachers to provide the basics on diverse academic and social topics. As with most educational careers, starting salaries aren’t very high. However, teachers who stick with the teaching profession can expect a gradual increase to an industry median of $55,800.

 

3. Agriculture

Unemployment Rate: 1.9%
Underemployment Rate: 57.3%
Median Wage Early Career: $36,000

Agriculture is a broad field, offering many areas of study for students interested in how a society produces and consumes food. Post-graduation, employment opportunities range from farm management to soil science. While agriculture salaries vary widely by occupation and location, some positions are very lucrative. For example, Soil and Plant Scientists in California see a mean annual wage of $82,350.

 

2. Special education

Unemployment Rate: 1.1%
Underemployment Rate: 17.3%
Median Wage Early Career: $35,000

Some argue that working in special education is a calling, but there are plenty of opportunities for those who hear it. Although most students who major in special education will find jobs as special education teachers, other positions are also available, including roles as special education administrators and assistive technologies specialists.

 

1. Construction services

Unemployment Rate: 1%
Underemployment Rate: 36%
Median Wage Early Career: $50,000

Undergraduates majoring in Construction Services will study building codes and specifications, construction safety, and electrical systems. Some programs even allow students to specialize in a particular field, such as project management or construction technology. While the degree can be used for several occupations, Construction Managers typically achieve the highest earnings, with a median salary of $89,300. This subsection of the Construction Services industry is also expected to experience an 11% increase job openings by 2026.