The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reports that, "Career opportunities are abundant to an individual with a degree in English because skills gained from this area of study can be easily applied to many career areas." Students who study English and the humanities are taught critical thinking, analysis, data interpretation and communication skills---all qualities valued by employers in fields ranging from teaching to editing, advertising, public relations and law.
The University of Illinois at Springfield also sees a promising future for English and humanities majors. "Many English majors also possess creative, flexible minds that can offer fresh approaches to situations in several workplaces." UIS has graduated students who went on to work in business, state government and publishing. You'll find some of their English graduates working at the Smithsonian Institution and Northern Illinois University Press.
If you need more specific data, the University of Kent in the United Kingdom reports that 11 percent of their humanities graduates go on to teaching careers. Twelve percent pursue a postgraduate degree, which improves prospects for students looking for a career outside of the academic field.
Scripps, the liberal arts women's college in Claremont, California, takes a different outlook on the subject: "A major does not necessarily dictate a career." They go on to say that your major is only part of what makes you qualified for a profession. You can supplement your credentials with internships, hobbies and volunteerism. A liberal arts education gives you skills that are transferable to a number of different areas like advanced writing, independent research skills and the ability to understand complex problems and solutions. You'll find Scripps alumnae in positions of authority at the University of Chicago and AIA Seattle, a professional architecture association.
If you're interested in the humanities and English, but know you do not want a career in education, you're still in luck. Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts says that half of their graduates with a degree in English find careers in marketing, library sciences and public relations.