For those who cannot read the article due to the web site not working with some browsers (e.g. Firefox), the article refers to the study at https://www.burning-glass.com/wp-content/uploads/permanent_detour_underemployment_report.pdf .
Burning Glass defined a college-level job as one where more than 50% of postings for the job request a bachelor’s degree or higher. But they noted that some jobs not considered college-level in the Department of Labor O*NET are “upcredentialed”, with more than 50% of posting requesting a bachelor’s degree.
They found that, overall, 43% of college graduates were underemployed in their first jobs (i.e. not college-level jobs), and that two thirds of those underemployed in the first job were underemployed five year later.
The percentage did vary by major, but even the “best” major groups had high rates of first job and five years later underemployment:
29%/18% Engineering
30%/18% Computer and Information Sciences, and Support Services
39%/24% Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
39%/26% Mathematics and Statistics
Some of the worst major groups in this measure were:
65%/50% Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting, and Related Protective Services
63%/47% Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies
57%/41% Family and Consumer Sciences / Human Sciences
54%/39% Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities
Other popular majors:
40%/27% Physical Sciences
44%/28% Social Sciences
47%/31% Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
51%/35% Biological and Biomedical Sciences
54%/38% Psychology
The study also notes that female graduates are more likely to be underemployed than male graduates, even when comparing within the same major group.