Want a Job? Go to College, and Don’t Major in Architecture

New York Times ^ | 01/09/2012 | By CATHERINE RAMPELL

[SeekAndFind]

Say it with me, readers: College is worth it.

For all the bellyaching about wasted degrees and the many indebted grads stuck on their parents’ couches, recent college graduates are still doing a lot better than their less-educated counterparts. Unemployment for new graduates is around 8.9 percent; the rate for workers with only a high school diploma is nearly three times as high, at 22.9 percent.

That’s according to a new report [PDF] from Georgetown’s Center on Education and the Workforce. The report also had some fascinating statistics on earnings and jobless rates by college major, something we’ve written about before.

The chart below shows unemployment rates sorted by major, based on 2009-10 census data. You can also see jobless rates for graduates of a given undergraduate major who went on to receive further education (not necessarily related to their college major). In the chart, “recent college graduate” refers to workers who are 22 to 26 years old; “experienced college graduate” covers those 30 to 54; and “graduate degree holder” is limited to workers 30 to 54 years old.

Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce American Community Survey, 2009-10, pooled sample. Recent college graduates are those 22 to 26 years old, and experienced college graduates are 30 to 54. Graduate degree holders are also limited to those 30 to 54. The percentage unemployed is based on total employed and unemployed. Earnings are based on full-time, full-year workers.

Some majors even produced college graduates who, at mid-career, earned more than workers from other fields who went on to received a tertiary degree.

[achilles2000]

Architecture is fine as long as you combine it with a firm grounding in business and contruction. My Brothers-in-law, for example, have made a lot of money in design build.

[Cicero]

I see that education is highest on the list for getting a job. Interesting.

[muawiyah]

Many architects need only design a couple of buildings and they are set for life. Others move on into other related fields. Part of the problem is that when you have a recession or depression commercial building grinds mostly to a halt!

[ClearCase_guy]

Howard Roark laughed.

[Lonely Bull]

Want a Job? Go to College, and Don’t Major in Architecture

This was originally "...and Don't Major in Underwater Ethnic Transgender Women's Basket-Weaving Studies," but for some reason the editors rejected that one.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Don’t Major in Underwater Ethnic Transgender Women’s Basket-Weaving Studies,”

I believe that is covered by the all-encompassing term called -— The ARTS.

Or as they usually call it — LIBERAL ARTS (I wonder.. why don’t we have CONSERVATIVE ARTS??)

[BradyLS]

Big Government hires a lot of ‘em.

[Vince Ferrer]

If I were to return to school, architecture would be one of the things I would want to study. The employment rate in architecture is due to the housing crash here, but it is having a Renaissance in many countries. This would actually be an exiting time to be an architect. There are new ways of building, new materials, and the money to build them. (somewhere else)

30 story building built in 15 days.

[RetiredTexasVet]

Why the recent college graduates had an unemployment rate 3 times less than high school graduates is because the college graduates are taking jobs that high school graduates would have normally taken. Restaurants have masters degree waitresses, MacDonalds has BBAs and MBAs for Asst Managers, UPS has some of the most degreed sorters and loaders, telephone solicitors are graduates at a minimum .... but more would be so redundant.

[Lou L]

I find it difficult to believe that Education majors are as highly employed as the chart shows. Seems like there was a glut of education majors over the past two decades—though that could just be my limited perception. Still, most of the ones I knew took jobs in other professions.

[ClearCase_guy]

[RetiredTexasVet]

From the young “lady’s” sign in Occupy NYC, going into $90,000 student loan debt for a BA in Hispanic Transgender, Gay and Lesbian studies would probably not be a great choice either.

[familyop]

19 Facts About The Deindustrialization Of America That Will Make You Weep
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2830862/posts

[LibWhacker]

Maybe one’s GPA is also important?

[DManA]

Don’t forget Marine Biology. Oh and latex.

[cynwoody]

Want a job? Go to college and don’t major in medicine. It’s a regulated industry.

[DManA]

Probably not. Everyone gets B+ now. All the students are above average.

[Lou L]

UPS has some of the most degreed sorters and loaders, telephone solicitors are graduates at a minimum ....

I know a guy who works for UPS as a sorter. Has an undergrade in International Relations or something like that, plus an MBA! He's a classic under-achiever in all other respects.

[napscoordinator]

I find it difficult to believe that Education majors are as highly employed as the chart shows. Seems like there was a glut of education majors over the past two decades—though that could just be my limited perception. Still, most of the ones I knew took jobs in other professions.

Supposedly there are a ton of boomer teachers that will be retiring in the next five to 10 years. Of course studies are always done with agenda. Even conservative studies are done to find out a favorable outcome. Too much money spent on studies. i say just get out there and work hard. If you are a plumber, work hard. If you are a chemist work hard. If you are a janitor then work hard. If you are an anesthesiologist then work hard. That is really the bottom line.