Computer science majors can’t find jobs: the reason why unemployment rates will continue to rise in the sector

 The digital age has brought about a rapid increase in the number of computer scientists, programmers, and other information professionals needed to support and maintain the technology that society depends on. The surge in demand for skills like programming and coding led many to pursue degrees that opened the door to these generally high-paying roles.

Broadly, the Bureau of Labor Statistics categorizes many of these workers under “Computer Systems Design and Related Services.” Between 1990 and 2024, employment in this sector grew by 176 percent, compared to just 31 percent growth across the entire labor force.

However, as artificial intelligence continues to be deployed, many who once believed their jobs were secure are now facing widespread layoffs. While the overall dip in employment has yet to be deeply felt, the BLS recorded a nearly 1 percent decline in the number of workers in the information sector from 2023 to 2024. The New York Federal Reserve Bank reports on the degrees with the highest levels of unemployment, and based on data from 2023, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, and Information Systems and Management all rank in the top ten.

Major with the highest levels of unemployment

1. Anthropology: 9.4 percent
2. Physics: 7.8 percent
3. Computer Engineering: 7.5 percent
4. Commercial Art & Graphic Design: 7.2 percent
5. Fine Arts: 7 percent
6. Sociology: 6.7 percent
7. Computer Science: 6.1 percent
8. Chemistry: 6.1 percent
9. Information Systems & Management: 5.6 percent
10. Public Policy and Law: 5.5 percent

Information jobs aren’t the only ones at risk

Data from the New York Federal Reserve Bank reveals a troubling trend in the labor market—one that policymakers have yet to fully address. The unemployment rate for recent college graduates is rising, with this group now facing a tougher job market than degree holders overall.

Between 1990 and 2015, the average unemployment rate for college graduates was 2.94 percent. As of March, it was slightly lower, at 2.7 percent. But for recent graduates, the picture is more concerning. Around a decade ago, their average unemployment rate was about 4.4 percent. Just a few months ago, it climbed to 5.8 percent—the highest level recorded (excluding the early COVID-19 pandemic spike) since 2013. Of the four categories tracked by the New York Fed—young workers, all workers, recent graduates, and all graduates—only recent graduates have seen an increase in unemployment since 2015. Still, the jobless rate for those with a degree remains lower than that of younger workers overall, suggesting that a college education continues to offer some advantages in the labor market.