College majors with the lowest unemployment revealed

The findings come from the New York Federal Reserve, which examined outcomes for graduates across 73 majors using data from the 2024 U.S. Census.

According to the analysis, four of the 10 majors with the lowest unemployment are in education. Special education leads the list with just 0.7% unemployment. Other people-focused fields also saw low unemployment: social services had 1.9%, and nursing registered 2.1%—well below the national average of 4.2% for new graduates.

The New York Fed notes that these trends align with recent hiring patterns. Roles requiring direct interaction, especially in health and social services, have accounted for the vast majority of private-sector job growth.

Part of this increase is driven by the country’s rapidly aging population. According to Department of Labor projections, nurses, physical therapist assistants, and physician assistants are expected to be among the fastest-growing occupations over the next decade.

The study also highlights a trade-off between job security and salary. Eight of the 10 lowest-unemployment majors pay below the 2024 median early-career salary of $58,000 for new graduates. For example, graduates in special education earned about $46,000 starting out, while social services majors earned $43,000. Nursing ($70,000) and engineering technologies ($65,000) stand out as exceptions, combining low unemployment with above-average pay.

Underemployment—the share of graduates working in jobs that do not require a bachelor’s degree—also favors nursing, which has the lowest rate at just 12.8%. Various engineering majors showed strong alignment between degrees and jobs, with underemployment below 20%.

The analysis defined new graduates as individuals aged 22–27 with a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Top 10 College Majors With the Lowest Unemployment