Computer science ranks 7th among US college majors with highest unemployment

By Phong Ngo May 29, 2025 | 03:35 pm PT

Computer science is now among the U.S. college majors with the highest unemployment, ranking 7th with a jobless rate of 6.1%, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

The figure reflects the impact of widespread layoffs across the tech industry, including at companies like Amazon and Google, which have diminished job opportunities for recent graduates.

Its unemployment rate trails only slightly behind those top majors like physics (7.8%) and anthropology (9.4%).

"Every kid with a laptop thinks they're the next Zuckerberg, but most can't debug their way out of a paper bag," Michael Ryan, a finance expert told Newsweek.

Computer engineering, which often overlaps with computer science at many universities, showed an even higher unemployment rate of 7.5%, raising concerns about job prospects in the field. In contrast, majors such as nutrition sciences, construction services, and civil engineering posted some of the lowest unemployment rates, ranging from 1% to as low as 0.4%.

Developers code on computers. Illustration photo by Shutterstock/Dragon Images

"Computer science majors have long been sold a dream that doesn't match reality," HR consultant Bryan Driscoll said. "But just like many majors and related jobs, the reality hits hard - too many grads, not enough jobs, crippling student debt, and a market that rewards pedigree over potential."

A recent report by Oxford Economics, cited by CBS News, found that unemployed recent graduates account for 12% of the 85% rise in the U.S. unemployment rate since mid-2023, despite making up only 5% of the total labor force.

The report attributed the rise in recent graduate unemployment to a mismatch between the growing number of degree holders and declining business demand in certain fields. This gap is most pronounced in the tech sector, where computer science graduates outnumber those in any other discipline.

Although computer science remains one of the fastest-growing undergraduate fields, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, it is also particularly vulnerable to automation. Advances in artificial intelligence have intensified concerns about long-term job stability for professionals in the industry.

"There's a mismatch between business demand and the labor supply overall," Matthew Martin, senior U.S. economist at Oxford Economics, said. "And it's very concentrated in the technology sector."