Supply and demand earns engineer degree-holders a top spot as one of the most well sought-after college degrees in the nation, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Ed Koc, director of research for NACE, states that students with engineering degrees are rare, comprising only 4 percent of graduates, which makes them in high demand. For this reason, students pursuing an engineering degree will find it easier to obtain employment compared to their colleagues who majored in more competitive fields.
According to the NACE, firms seek CPAs to help companies survive the troubled economy. Mitch Feldman, president of A.E. Feldman, a consulting firm, says, "Accounting firms are being called upon to help redefine risk management structures, achieve better cash management, sell assets, optimize costs, restructure debt, and improve the depth and transparency of financial reporting." For these reasons, an accounting degree is in high demand.
Technology is always changing, ranking a computer science major one of the most marketable degrees across the country. This field is promising, as technology continues to advance at extraordinary speed. College graduates will discover it is relatively easier to find a job in this field compared to their classmates. In fact, NACE reports that 56 percent of students with a computer science degree who have applied for jobs obtained job offers.
Surprisingly, one of the hardest fields to break into is education, despite its popularity. Blame it on the economy, but due to increasing government budget cutbacks, schools are increasingly hesitant to hire new teachers; in fact, they're being laid off. "Teachers and school staff will bear the brunt of the layoffs this summer, as hundreds of thousands will likely be laid off around the nation," reports Tami Luhby for CNN.
Again, although an extremely popular degree, liberal arts majors are in low demand. For instance, of the students who majored in English literature for the class of 2011, only 23.5 percent found a job in their field.
Higher education may increase your chances of finding a job in your field. Consider a biology degree, for example. Although you may not be able find a job at first, if you attend medical school, you will gain valuable skills, substantially increasing your chances of gaining employment in your field.