IES Blog

Are undergraduate degrees enough?

Posted on January 30th, 2013 Read time: 1 minutes

Several recent college graduates are unable to take advantage of their degrees and are taking jobs that are relatively low-skill, according to a recent study by the Centers for College Affordability and Productivity (CCAP).

Nearly half of U.S. college graduates have jobs that require fewer credentials than a four-year college degree and roughly 5 million college graduates are in occupations that require less than a high school education.

The CCAP suggests the trend is not affecting all educated young adults equally. Those who attended private schools are more likely to earn more than those graduated from public universities.

Meanwhile, figures from the Department of Labor Statistics suggest jobs requiring a Master’s or Doctorate Degree are growing at 22 percent and 20 percent, respectively, according to a recent statement by GradEdge, an information platform for prospective graduate students. In addition, people who have a graduate degree earn up to 72 percent more than those with only a Bachelor’s degree and face half the unemployment rate.

When businesses are considering employing college graduates or more certified workers, outsourcing payrolling and HR administration can make the hiring process a cinch.

Related Articles