Contrary to what your college professors may have told you, a new study indicates you probably didn’t need those classes on genderqueer identity and income redistribution to succeed in the real world.
According to new research from the Urban Institute, a large number of college graduates with a job are overqualified for the work they are doing. As a result, these individuals are failing to maximize their earning potential.
In their report, the researchers examined approximately 400 jobs, and labeled jobs with higher rates of bachelor degree holders as good-fit jobs for graduates with a 4 year degree. Jobs that did not fall into the “good-fit” category were considered jobs that a bachelor degree holder would be “overqualified” for.
In addition to finding that one in four bachelor degree holders were overqualified for their jobs, the researchers also noted that the over-qualification rate is higher than average among young college graduates. Approximately 33.8 % of men and 32.3 % of women aged 22-27 years with a bachelor’s degree were considered to be overqualified for their jobs.
These findings come at a particularly significant time for American higher education, as many Democratic politicians have begun considering the concept of free college tuition. In addition to the fact that free college would likely cost taxpayers billions of dollars annually, this report raises the question of whether or not this proposal would actually benefit the economy, as nearly a third of recent college graduates are overqualified for the work they are doing.
President Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Education, Betsy Devos, is on the right side of this issue. She has raised concerns about the cost of free college for students, rightfully noting, “I think we also have to consider the fact that there is nothing in life that is truly free. Somebody is going to pay for it.”
However, Devos has also promised to advocate trade and vocational schools as an alternative to a four-year college degree, saying “craftsmanship is not a fallback — but a noble pursuit.”
