More Than Half of College Grads Working Jobs That Don't Need Degrees

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

More than half of Americans who earned college diplomas find themselves working in jobs that don't require a bachelor's degree or utilize the skills acquired in obtaining one. What's worse, they can get stuck there for the entirety of their careers

Posted by LampLighter at 08:32 PM | 43 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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... If a graduate's first job is in a low-paying field or out-of-line with a worker's interests, it could pigeonhole them into an undesirable role or industry that's hard to escape, according to a new study from The Burning Glass Institute and the Strada Institute for the Future of Work. The findings come as more Americans question the eroding value of a college degree, and as more employers are dropping higher education degree requirements altogether.

"What we found is that even in a red-hot economy, half of graduates are winding up in jobs they didn't need to go to college to get," Burning Glass CEO Matt Sigelman told CBS MoneyWatch. Examples of jobs that don't require college-level skills include roles in the retail, hospitality and manufacturing sectors, according to Sigelman. ...

#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-02-27 03:07 PM | Reply

So many degree are worthless these days. College is great for specialized fields like medicine, accounting, engineering, law, etc.

It used to be that people who weren't going into specialized fields sought a classical liberal arts degree where the focus is on critical thinking, exploration of controversial topics and viewpoints, etc so upon graduation they were better prepared to enter the workforce from a well-rounded aspect.

We have less of that nowadays as controversial speakers are often shouted down or even chased off campuses for wrongthink or microagressions.

#2 | Posted by BellRinger at 2024-02-27 04:08 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Strange I just saw an article were many aren't even showing up on the first day.

#3 | Posted by oneironaut at 2024-02-27 04:41 PM | Reply

#2 interesting.

I once thought an English degree would be the ticket.

#4 | Posted by oneironaut at 2024-02-27 04:42 PM | Reply

@#2 ... We have less of that nowadays as controversial speakers are often shouted down or even chased off campuses for wrongthink or microagressions. ...

The ones I've seen were controversial because of the hate speech or the encouragement of violence.

The ousting of Harvard's president (stoked, btw the way, by the GOP) was similar in that she did not seem to give all the students of Harvard a safe place to learn.

But to the other point of the comment...

... College is great for specialized fields like medicine, accounting, engineering, law, etc. ...

I also have a big respect for those who attend trade schools and the subsequent apprentice job. They do a huge job to keep the Country running. ...

#5 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-02-27 06:03 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

So what? In a democracy you need citizens who know basic history, civics, and critical thinking. Not just how to run the stamping machine.

#6 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2024-02-27 08:45 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

We have less of that nowadays as controversial speakers are often shouted down or even chased off campuses for wrongthink or microagressions.

#2 | Posted by BellRinger

Republicans have become such awful fascists and racists that it's important to young people to signal that they reject such notions. They're young so they overdo it.

#7 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2024-02-27 08:47 PM | Reply

"So what? In a democracy you need citizens who know basic history, civics, and critical thinking. Not just how to run the stamping machine.
#6 | POSTED BY SPEAKSOFTLY"

Our education system even fails in producing people that can run the stamping machines now - when McDonalds had to switch over to a picture POS and auto-chain counting, it should have been a giant warning sign about how badly our education system has failed. Of course, the current system is championed and run by liberals - who then enroll all their kids in private schools to avoid the disaster they have created.

#8 | Posted by Claudio at 2024-02-27 08:58 PM | Reply

I once thought

#4 | Posted by oneironaut

Liar.

#9 | Posted by jpw at 2024-02-27 11:40 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 6

@#8 ... Our education system even fails in producing people that can run the stamping machines now - when McDonalds had to switch over to a picture POS and auto-chain counting ...

Huh?

Please explain.

thx.

#10 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-02-27 11:55 PM | Reply

Our middle son has a bachelors degree in Psychology, but he's currently working as a production manager at a commercial bakery.

I have a bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering and I retired eight-years ago after a 49+ year career in engineering, and for nearly 40 of those years, I was a Registered Professional Engineer.

OCU

#11 | Posted by OCUser at 2024-02-28 01:20 AM | Reply

Recently I saw a want ad the other day and laughed openly at it...

Description:

Review submitted abstracts and classify them into appropriate subject oriented ejournals in the field listed above.

Position is part time and may be done from home. Work requires a computer, internet connects and email experience.

PhD strongly preferred.

Compensation: $15 per hour.

Are you fkng kidding? PhD for $15 per hour?

#12 | Posted by Nixon at 2024-02-28 07:10 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 3

Our education system even fails in producing people that can run the stamping machines now

#8 | POSTED BY CLAUDIO AT 2024-02-27 08:58 PM | FLAG:

Nonsense. The local community college has an education track for Machining Technology, certificates for Machinists, etc. Kids can learn to weld in high school if they want to, it's in the Agriculture classes.

#13 | Posted by sitzkrieg at 2024-02-28 08:36 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

#12 that's more than grad students and postdocs make ...

#14 | Posted by jpw at 2024-02-28 08:47 AM | Reply

Not according to Zip Recruiter

What Is the Average Postdoc Salary by State

#15 | Posted by sitzkrieg at 2024-02-28 09:48 AM | Reply

#13 | Posted by sitzkrieg at 2024-02-28 08:36 AM | Reply | Flag:

Clodio has all the feels for the education system.

Don't bother him with real facts.

#16 | Posted by Nixon at 2024-02-28 09:51 AM | Reply

Claudio: way wrong.

Here in Okiehomie the state is busy tearing down the public school system, and is also offering tax breaks for rich folks to send their children to private schools. The tax credits given are such that they are almost useless to folks of low or moderate income. Our superintendent of schools, psycho freak Ryan Walters, is busy chasing teachers from the system, worrying along the way who is using which restroom in the state's schools.

The State of Oklahoma is an exporter of college grads, and cannot produce the educated workforce needed to attract and retain today's jobs, i.e., those which require an educated workforce. This is one of the reddest of Red States. It's not liberals, it's the GOP players in charge...

#17 | Posted by catdog at 2024-02-28 10:00 AM | Reply

More than half of Americans who earned college diplomas find themselves working in jobs that don't require a bachelor's degree

I'm curious if this has been studied over time. Is the current day percentage out of the ordinary? The story is framed that way, but where's the comparison data?

#18 | Posted by JOE at 2024-02-28 10:09 AM | Reply

So many degree are worthless these days. College is great for specialized fields like medicine, accounting, engineering, law, etc.
It used to be that people who weren't going into specialized fields sought a classical liberal arts degree where the focus is on critical thinking, exploration of controversial topics and viewpoints, etc so upon graduation they were better prepared to enter the workforce from a well-rounded aspect.
We have less of that nowadays as controversial speakers are often shouted down or even chased off campuses for wrongthink or microagressions.

#2 | POSTED BY BELLRINGER

It's easy to spot who has never been to college.

#19 | Posted by Sycophant at 2024-02-28 11:58 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Don't require but are preferred?

#20 | Posted by Sycophant at 2024-02-28 12:02 PM | Reply

College is great for specialized fields like medicine, accounting, engineering, law, etc.

Every single rightwinger on SCOTUS has a liberal arts degree.

#21 | Posted by JOE at 2024-02-28 12:25 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

Every single rightwinger on SCOTUS has a liberal arts degree.

#21 | Posted by JOE at 2024-02-28 12:25 PM | Reply | Flag

That's great. Know what else is great? They probably got a scholarship or paid for it them selves. And there's nothing wrong with that. But if you're Debbie DoLittle from Smallville USA, I wouldn't count on that liberal arts degree to land me on the SCOTUS.

#22 | Posted by globriel at 2024-02-28 12:41 PM | Reply

Of course, the current system is championed and run by liberals - who then enroll all their kids in private schools to avoid the disaster they have created.

#8 | Posted by Claudio

You heard it here, the texas school system is run by liberals, who require evolution to be taught only as an opinion alongside creationism.

#23 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2024-02-28 12:52 PM | Reply

"don't require a bachelor's degree"

my first job out of college was selling print advertising. The sales force were all guys in their 40s and 50s. Only 1 or 2 guys under 40.

I got in the door because I had a degree....they wouldn't have considered me otherwise being so young.

My point is that job didn't require a bachelor's degree.....but it still made a difference.

#24 | Posted by eberly at 2024-02-28 01:02 PM | Reply

#23

You don't know how school systems work do you?

And I am not saying they are liberal or conservative.

But that you have no clue how they work.

#25 | Posted by oneironaut at 2024-02-28 01:11 PM | Reply

My point is that job didn't require a bachelor's degree.....but it still made a difference.

#24 | POSTED BY EBERLY

It's certification you can complete a job.

#26 | Posted by oneironaut at 2024-02-28 01:12 PM | Reply

You can generally tell if a white guy went to college by does he listen to Joe Rogan.

If he drives a truck that costs more than his annual income is probably another good predictor.

#27 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-02-28 01:16 PM | Reply

I wouldn't count on that liberal arts degree to land me on the SCOTUS.

Never said it would. The point is the fact that some of the most powerful people in the nation majored in English Literature undercuts the notion that these degrees lack value. They aren't the only people who studied liberal arts and wound up wildly successful.

#28 | Posted by JOE at 2024-02-28 01:46 PM | Reply

Also, if you're going to call English Lit majors a bunch of idiotic soyboy cucks, you're going to have to reconcile with why the public should respect edicts handed down by same.

#29 | Posted by JOE at 2024-02-28 01:48 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

You don't know how school systems work do you?

And I am not saying they are liberal or conservative.

But that you have no clue how they work.

#25 | Posted by oneironaut

www.statesman.com

"Texas education board approves curriculum that challenges evolution"

You were saying?

#30 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2024-02-28 02:11 PM | Reply

About thirty years ago, I was talking to a HR guy from Chrysler. They were preferentially hiring people with post secondary education because those people had shown the ability to learn new things and adapt to change.

#31 | Posted by northguy3 at 2024-02-28 03:12 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

#25 Mom's for liberty would disagree.
Then again, you really don't deal with reality, do you?

#32 | Posted by northguy3 at 2024-02-28 03:13 PM | Reply

#22 that liberal arts degree opens the door at every law school. And you have to be a lawyer to get on SCOTUS.

#33 | Posted by northguy3 at 2024-02-28 03:15 PM | Reply

22 that liberal arts degree opens the door at every law school. And you have to be a lawyer to get on SCOTUS.

POSTED BY NORTHGUY3 AT 2024-02-28 03:15 PM | REPLY

No you don't have to be a lawyer to be on SCOTUS. There's no such requirement.

#34 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2024-02-28 03:17 PM | Reply

The four year degree tells an employer many things, one is that you'll stick with something for four years. Those are the kinds of people you want to hire. People who will stick with the company.

#35 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-02-28 03:53 PM | Reply

Academic dishonesty, cheating, is still, if not more, a huge problem than it was. If you can't be arsed to work in your general eds, pay someone to write your essays or copy off hidden cheat sheets, you picked the wrong field. According to comments and responses I've seen on social media on this topic, I'm in the minority opinion here. *sigh*

#36 | Posted by hamburglar at 2024-02-28 05:34 PM | Reply

*if you pay someone to write your essays. Sorry, pre-coffee

#37 | Posted by hamburglar at 2024-02-28 05:37 PM | Reply

#36 | Posted by hamburglar

Like trump did all the way up through business school?

#38 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2024-02-28 05:54 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

The four year degree tells an employer many things, one is that you'll stick with something for four years
- snoofy

This is false, invalidating the rest of your pontification.

Anyone can go to "college" for four years.

The point is graduating. Completing "something".

Employers want people that can finish things.

#39 | Posted by oneironaut at 2024-02-28 06:20 PM | Reply

Re: #38

Exactly. Compromised ethics begets compromised leaders. It's been bad, but I feel with the tiktok addicted generation, it's worse. I need some good numbers for that assertion, though. I need to go on a social science dig and see what recent studies have been done on cheating behavior

#40 | Posted by hamburglar at 2024-02-28 06:22 PM | Reply

Anyone can go to "college" for four years.
The point is graduating. Completing "something".

^
That's why I said "The four year degree."
Do you know what a four year degree is?

#41 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-02-28 08:05 PM | Reply

But if you're Debbie DoLittle from Smallville USA, I wouldn't count on that liberal arts degree to land me on the SCOTUS.

#22 | POSTED BY GLOBRIEL

That's right.

"Unless you can get by off of your daddy's name the best thing you can possibly do is get your little ass on an assembly line in a car plant or sling coffee."

"We need to drain the swamp!"

-- the same -------.

#42 | Posted by tres_flechas at 2024-02-29 06:10 AM | Reply

#36 | POSTED BY HAMBURGLAR AT 2024-02-28 05:34 PM | FLAG:

What is this 1990? Before ChatGPT the kids (and adults) used Chegg & Mathway. Now it's those two, and ChatGPT, and it really feels like it's all of them using it.

#43 | Posted by sitzkrieg at 2024-02-29 09:32 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1