Which University Degrees Are Least Employable in the UK?

OUS Academy in Switzerland
Jun 11
3 min read

In an era of evolving job markets and increased higher education participation, not all university degrees offer the same prospects for employment. This article explores which academic disciplines in the United Kingdom have the lowest employability rates based on graduate outcomes, salary expectations, and job market trends. The aim is to inform students, institutions, and policymakers on the importance of aligning education with labor market demands.

Introduction

Higher education is often marketed as a pathway to career success, yet graduate outcomes vary significantly by discipline. While some fields boast high employment rates and lucrative salaries, others struggle with lower placement rates and limited job opportunities. Understanding which degrees are least employable is essential for prospective students evaluating academic investment, especially amid rising tuition fees and economic uncertainty.

Defining Employability

Employability in this context refers to a graduate’s ability to secure full-time work or meaningful career placement within 15 months of graduation. This includes metrics such as:

Percentage of graduates in full-time employment
Graduate unemployment rates
Median starting salaries
Alignment with labor market needs

These indicators are regularly collected by UK bodies such as the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) through the Graduate Outcomes survey.

Degrees with the Lowest Employment Rates

Data consistently show that graduates in certain disciplines are less likely to find full-time employment shortly after graduation. The subjects with the lowest employment rates include:

Historical, Philosophical, and Religious Studies
Language and Area Studies
Design, Creative and Performing Arts
Combined and General Studies
Biological and Sport Sciences

Graduates in these fields typically have employment rates between 43% and 50% within 15 months post-graduation, significantly lower than the national average of 57%.

High Graduate Unemployment Disciplines

Interestingly, even some traditionally “employable” degrees report unexpectedly high unemployment rates:

Computing and Information Technology – ~8% unemployment
Mathematics – ~7%
Design and Creative Arts – ~6.6%
Media and Journalism – ~6.6%
Modern Languages and Linguistics – ~6.2%

While some of these fields suffer from oversaturation, others face challenges due to rapid technological change or lack of industry engagement during the degree.

Lowest Graduate Salaries

Low employability is often accompanied by modest starting salaries. Disciplines that routinely produce lower-earning graduates include:

Design and Creative Arts – Median salaries as low as £20,000
Historical and Religious Studies – Median starting salaries around £23,000
Drama, Dance, and Cinematics – Often below £20,000
Psychology and Sociology – Typically under £25,000

These figures are below the median for UK graduates aged 22–29, which hovers near £29,000.

Factors Contributing to Low Employability

Several interconnected reasons contribute to the reduced employability of these degrees:

Mismatch with Industry Needs: Many arts and humanities programs do not directly translate into specific job roles.
Limited Practical Training: Degrees lacking work placements or vocational elements tend to underperform in the job market.
Oversaturation: A high number of graduates in popular subjects (e.g. media, psychology) leads to intense competition.
Economic Shifts: Automation and AI have reduced demand for certain traditional skills.
Soft Skill Emphasis: While valuable, soft skills alone are insufficient without technical or applied competencies.

Misconceptions and Contextual Realities

It is important to approach this topic with nuance. Low employability does not equate to “worthless” degrees. Many humanities and arts graduates find success through:

Further study (e.g., postgraduate degrees)
Careers in education, public service, NGOs, or media
Entrepreneurship and freelance work

Moreover, the skills developed—critical thinking, creativity, communication—are essential in the long term, even if initial employment is slower to secure.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Degrees in arts, humanities, and certain science fields show consistently lower short-term employment and salary outcomes in the UK. While this does not devalue their intellectual or societal importance, students pursuing these paths should take proactive steps to enhance employability, including: