Despite the anti-philosophy rhetoric, philosophy majors do very well in the job market. A recent study by The Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows that in 2015, only five percent of philosophy majors were unemployed, six months after graduation — a percentage that has been decreasing for years. In 2001, this number was much higher. As the American Philosophical Association summarizes the findings:
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit (HECSU), which also collates data of this kind, agrees philosophers are finding it easier to secure work. Its figures show that, in 2001, 9.9 percent of philosophy graduates were unemployed six months after graduation. In 2006, just 6.7 percent were (Academy of Arts and Sciences). By 2015, this figure dropped to only 5 percent.
This bears repeating: 95% of college students got a job within six months after graduation, and as CNN Money reports, their starting salary averaged out to 35,000. Given that this is more than the median personal income of all workers over 15 (the U.S. Census Bureau reports it to be $30,240), we think that’s a pretty good start.
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