Do college studies actually translate to students' future jobs? 

Answer: 30% of 2025 graduates

For 2024 graduates, 41% are employed in their field of study

Questions:

1. Which majors do you think are the most/least likely to lead to a job in that field? Why?
2. What steps can you take to prepare for employment, regardless of which major you choose?
3. What is one other metric you would be interested in, if you wanted to learn about the experience of college graduates entering the workforce?

Here are the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom.

Behind the Numbers (Cengage):

"As hiring power shifts, degree requirements are resurging. Seventy-one percent of employers now require a two- or four-year degree for entry-level roles, up from 55% in 2024. The result is fewer opportunities and tougher competition for graduates:

• Just 30% of 2025 graduates (vs. 41% of 2024 graduates) have secured full-time jobs related to their degree
• 26% of 2025 graduates (vs. 24% of 2024 graduates) are employed in fields unrelated to their degree
• 33% of 2025 graduates and 20% of 2024 graduates are unemployed and actively seeking work"

About the Author

Kathryn Dawson

Kathryn (she/her) is excited to join the NGPF team after 9 years of experience in education as a mentor, tutor, and special education teacher. She is a graduate of Cornell University with a degree in policy analysis and management and has a master's degree in education from Brooklyn College. Kathryn is looking forward to bringing her passion for accessibility and educational justice into curriculum design at NGPF. During her free time, Kathryn loves embarking on cooking projects, walking around her Seattle neighborhood with her dog, or lounging in a hammock with a book.