The assertion that half of college graduates work in jobs not requiring a degree 10 years later has several flaws, particularly in how "underemployment" is defined and the oversimplified narrative it presents. This claim, frequently cited from reports by organizations like the Burning Glass Institute and Strada Education Foundation, faces key criticisms regarding methodology and interpretation.
Defining "degree-level" jobs
A major flaw lies in how researchers determine if a job requires a degree. Studies often classify jobs as "degree-level" based on the education levels of the majority of people currently in that role. This creates significant problems.
- Categorization ignores nuance: The same job title can encompass a wide range of skill and education levels. For example, the category "sales" might include both retail clerks and highly technical sales engineers, the latter of which almost certainly requires a degree.
- Arbitrary cutoffs: Using a simple 50% majority rule is problematic. A job where 49% of workers have a degree is classified as "non-degree," while one with 51% is "degree-level," creating an arbitrary distinction that doesn't reflect the work itself.
- "Degree reset" effect: Many employers have removed degree requirements for jobs in recent years, making it even harder to track with static job classifications.
Underemployment is not always a permanent state
While some graduates do remain underemployed for a decade, other research indicates that for many, it is a temporary phase in their career development.
- Growth into better roles: Economists with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York have found that many graduates who take less-demanding jobs right after college eventually move into more rewarding positions.
- "First job scarring" is sticky, not universal: Studies suggest that taking a non-degree job immediately after graduation can limit future mobility, a phenomenon known as "first job scarring". However, this "stickiness" does not affect everyone and is influenced by factors like the broader economic climate.
Other factors are overlooked
The simple "underemployment" narrative misses other important aspects that influence career paths and job satisfaction.
- Majors matter: Not all degrees lead to the same employment outcomes. Quantitative fields like engineering and computer science tend to have lower rates of "underemployment" than liberal arts or some business majors.
- Skills matter more than degrees: Some graduates may choose a career path for reasons other than the prestige of a "degree-level" job. A graduate might take a lucrative, non-degree sales job to pay off debt or pursue a personal passion that aligns with their values.
- Transferable skills are ignored: The analysis assumes a degree's value is tied to the job title, ignoring the fact that many degrees teach valuable, transferable skills like communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving that are useful in a wide array of roles.
- Personal choice is a factor: The statistics may not account for personal choice. A graduate might take a job that is statistically "underemployed" because it offers better compensation, geographic location, or work-life balance.
Employers also value degrees differently
The demand for a degree can vary by company and even by the skills of the individual.
- Degrees as a filter: Some employers may post jobs that formally require a degree to expand their hiring pool, but then filter for the more skilled candidates.
- Employers pay more for degree holders: Many companies are willing to pay more for a college graduate, even for jobs that don't nominally require one, suggesting they perceive higher value in their skills.
In summary, while statistics on underemployment raise important questions about the value of higher education, the narrative that "half of college graduates" are not using their degrees after 10 years is an oversimplification. It relies on a flawed classification system, ignores personal and economic factors, and overlooks the transferable skills and market preferences that a college degree can confer
*** Imo, probably the biggest hurdle is the disruption caused by child-bearing by most women around age 30, almost 10 years after they graduate college. |
