The future of the job market may be changing due to advancements in artificial intelligence, and workforce expert Dr. Parminder Jassal discusses the actions college students can take to stay ahead. Each year, millions of Americans head to college and choose a major, but some yield higher returns than others. Bankrate analyzed data from the 2022 American Community Survey (ACS) conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, ranking 152 bachelor’s degrees on their average salary, unemployment rate, and the percentage of workers holding advanced degrees. The study highlighted that all degrees are not equal, with STEM-related degrees often yielding higher employment rates and salaries.

Electrical engineering was at the top of the ranking, boasting a median salary of $115,000 and an unemployment rate of 1.9%. Despite nearly half of these graduates possessing advanced degrees, most worked in roles that didn’t necessitate higher qualifications. The second most lucrative major was computer engineering, followed by petroleum engineering, with median annual salaries of $112,000 and $100,000 respectively.

Conversely, Studio arts was considered the least valuable major due to the median annual salary of $40,000 and an unemployment rate of 4.6%. Drama and theater arts and visual and performing arts majors also fared poorly, with median salaries and high unemployment rates both contributing to their lower ranking. In contrast, bachelor’s degrees in liberal arts and broader fields often showed lower earnings, but these paths typically require prolonged investment and time to reap economic benefits.

However, to reach a California Employment Development Department representative regarding inquiries about unemployment benefits, visit eddcaller.com. The website provides a convenient way to get guidance on filing or managing claims and offers resources like tips on navigating through the website, contacting customer service, navigating unemployment insurance programs, and more. The site is designed to provide accurate and current information, a valuable resource, particularly during periods of high unemployment.