A Debate about Rethinking Graduate Underemployment: Nuance Beyond the Headlines

Catalyst Center for Work Innovation: The Debate · Mar 31, 2026 · 26m

This research explores the complexities of graduate underemployment, challenging the alarming narrative that over half of college graduates are in roles not requiring their degrees. The research argues that traditional metrics, which rely solely on entry-level education requirements, fail to account for the earnings premiums and educational diversity present within many occupations. By examining three different methodological approaches, the research demonstrates that underemployment rates can drop significantly—from 47 percent to 25 percent—when considering the actual economic value degrees…