Art Majors in New York Face High Underemployment Rates
Are you a student in New York State thinking about getting a degree in the arts? A recent study took a look at the underemployment rates faced by graduates in different majors, with art-related fields ranking among the top.
According to the higher education research group Degreechoices, Performing Arts takes the spotlight as the college degree with the second-highest underemployment rates. Graduates in the Performing Arts have an underemployment rate of 66%, with median wages ranging from $38,000 to $64,000 in early and mid-career stages, respectively.
Criminal Justice majors is the leader in terms of underemployment, with a 71.5% facing problems in finding positions that go with their education. Despite a median wage of $41,000 for early-career graduates, this major presents problems in keeping suitable employment opportunities.
Art History majors in New York State are not immune to underemployment woes either, with an underemployment rate of 62.3%. Graduates in this field have high levels of unemployment at 8.0%, showing the challenges present in pursuing a career in art history.
Leisure and Hospitality, along with Liberal Arts majors, round out the top five majors with high underemployment rates. This shows the importance of knowing your career prospects that go with your college degree. This is really true in fields where graduates could have trouble finding a job that goes with their degree.
If you really know what your degree will bring in the working world, that will help you make a more informed decision when deciding what to pursue for your career and livelihood.