If you want to be unemployed when you graduate, study computer science
It’s a tough job market in the UK. Unemployment for young people is around 13% across the country. Luckily, the unemployment rate for graduates is much lower – although not graduates are created equal.
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Data from Jsic, a UK-based non-profit, says the worst degree to have as a recent graduate is computer science (CS). Jsic says CS graduates from 2023 in the UK reported an average unemployment rate of 9.7%. This was, by some margin, the highest unemployment rate (by subject area).
Although Jsic blamed the sluggish hiring on “over-recruitment post-COVID,” most fingers would likely point at the impact of AI. Citi’s CTO already suggested back in October that AI was squeezing roles at the bank.
Second and third places in Jsic's unemployment league table was held by graduates in Cinematics & Photography and Art, at 8.7% and 8.5% respectively.
Common finance-related degrees had better employment rates. Finance & Accountancy graduates had an average unemployment rate of 8.1%, Mathematics graduates had an unemployment rate of 7.5%, and Economics graduates had an unemployment rate of 6.8%. The “best” unemployment rate for finance-related graduates was for Business & Management graduates, where it was 6.3%.
There were significant variations in the jobs graduates were doing 15 months after graduating. Economics graduates were most likely to be in “finance and investment” analysis and advisory roles. Finance & Accountancy graduates were most likely to be “chartered and certified” accountants. And Business & Management graduates were most likely to be in “advertising and marketing”, of all things in the world.
The table below is very long. We’ve bolded some of the subjects you might find more relevant to financial services. Oh, and in case you were interested in ironclad job security – study civil engineering.
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