Basically a rehash of a bunch of stuff we discuss regularly.
…but in the “highest paying majors” list. #1 is by all accounts in a slump right now ( http://insideenergy.org/2015/02/13/falling-oil-prices-leave-petroleum-engineering-students-out-in-the-cold/ ) and #2 seems to have somewhat iffy long-term prospects, unless it includes mining for metals for electronics and such.
Maybe it’s because the infographic refers to 2014 grads.
It can sometimes be hard to explain economic and industry cycles and their effects on job markets to high school and college students who have not been alive long enough to have paid attention to economics and business news through a cycle or few.
What struck me about the huffington post list, is how many of them are specializations. And the economy can hammer a specialist both good and bad. I had a General Manager who once said he valued flexible employees because specialization is for insects.
It sure seems like a more general engineering degree (meaning chem or mech, etc) is the way to go, if one wishes to keep options open (and obviously if one wishes to major in engineering).
Yes, highly specialized education can mean that you are tying yourself to a particular sector and its ups and downs.