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Forbes
6 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
6 College Majors That Will Thrive In An AI-Driven Economy
Artificial Intelligence The rise of artificial intelligence is reshaping career paths faster than most students can adjust their college plans. According to the World Economic Forum, AI is expected to replace approximately 85 million jobs by 2025, while simultaneously creating new opportunities for those who position themselves correctly in this AI-driven economy. The question isn't whether AI will change the job market—it already has. The smart question is: which college majors prepare students to work alongside AI rather than compete against it? After analyzing employment data, salary projections, and industry trends, six majors stand out for their resilience in an AI-driven economy. These fields combine uniquely human skills with technical literacy, positioning graduates to lead rather than follow technological change. Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) is more than a buzzword—it's a growing career field blending psychology, computer science, and design to build tech that feels intuitive, not overwhelming. According to College Factual, HCI careers were projected to grow 9.3% from 2016 to 2026. Broader fields within computer and information technology show even stronger growth: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicted a 13% increase in IT-related roles from 2016 to 2026, and a 16% growth in computer and information research scientist positions from 2019 to 2029—roles that often overlap with HCI. The most recent BLS projections indicate that tech jobs will continue to grow at a rate significantly faster than the average through 2033. Why the momentum? As Harvard Business Review notes, 'design thinking' has become a strategic priority. Companies are investing in human-centered design to create more effective user experiences and tap into new markets. And while AI can write code or analyze behavior, it can't feel the frustration of a clunky interface—or the satisfaction of a seamless one. That's where HCI professionals shine. Career paths include: UX Researcher, Product Designer, Human Factors Engineer, Accessibility Specialist Why it's AI-resistant: Empathy, creativity, and user advocacy can't be automated. Cognitive science sits at the intersection of psychology, neuroscience, computer science, and philosophy. This interdisciplinary approach creates graduates who understand how both human and artificial minds process information—a crucial skill as AI systems become more sophisticated. The field offers remarkable earning flexibility. Healthcare organizations pay cognitive science professionals substantially more than academic institutions, creating opportunities for graduates to choose between financial rewards and mission-driven work. This salary variation demonstrates the major's adaptability across sectors. This major prepares students for emerging roles in AI ethics, human-AI collaboration, and cognitive enhancement technologies. As companies grapple with AI bias and decision-making transparency, they need professionals who understand both human cognition and machine learning. Career paths include: AI Ethics Specialist, Cognitive Analyst, User Researcher, Human Factors Consultant Why it's AI-resistant: Understanding consciousness and decision-making remains uniquely human. In a world flooded with AI-generated content, authentic human communication becomes increasingly valuable, not less so. Communication majors develop skills that AI cannot replicate: reading social cues, building trust, managing conflict, and inspiring action. An advertising manager is responsible for overseeing a company's ad campaigns, which may include coordinating with internal advertising experts, managing budgets, and analyzing campaign results. The knowledge of human behavior and motivation that an advertising manager gains through cognitive science study can help them more effectively target customers. The key is combining traditional communication skills with digital literacy. Communication majors who understand data analysis, social media algorithms, and content strategy command premium salaries in marketing, public relations, and corporate communications. Career paths include: Brand Strategist, Crisis Communication Manager, Digital Marketing Director, Organizational Development Specialist Why it's AI-resistant: Authentic relationship-building and strategic thinking require human judgment. The healthcare sector is crucial to the global economy, making medicine and healthcare majors another group of the highest-paying majors in 2025. Public health specifically combines data analysis with human-centered problem-solving—a perfect blend for the AI-driven economy. Public health professionals utilize AI tools for disease tracking, resource allocation, and predictive modeling when making strategic decisions about implementation and community engagement. Specialized roles, such as nurse anesthetists, are projected to earn median salaries of $214,200, and nurse practitioners are projected to earn $132,000 or more annually. The field requires understanding complex social systems, cultural sensitivity, and ethical decision-making—capabilities that remain distinctly human. As healthcare becomes more data-driven, public health professionals serve as translators between technical possibilities and human needs. Career paths include: Epidemiologist, Health Policy Analyst, Global Health Coordinator, Biostatistician Why it's AI-resistant: Community engagement and ethical decision-making require human insight Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning are among the leading technical advancements, ranking among the highest-paying majors available today. Still, Entrepreneurship majors learn to spot opportunities that AI hasn't yet identified. Entrepreneurship education teaches adaptability, creative problem-solving, and risk assessment—skills that become more valuable as markets change rapidly. Students learn to identify market gaps, build teams, and navigate uncertainty. The most successful entrepreneurs in the AI era will be those who understand technology's capabilities and limitations while focusing on uniquely human needs. They will build businesses that leverage AI tools while solving problems that require human creativity and empathy. Career paths include: Startup Founder, Venture Capital Analyst, Innovation Consultant, Business Development Manager Why it's AI-resistant: Opportunity recognition and leadership require human intuition and creativity Education is undergoing a massive transformation, and there is a growing demand for professionals who can bridge traditional teaching methods with modern technology. There is currently a national shortage of qualified teachers, particularly in STEM fields and special education. In response, many states are offering loan forgiveness, signing bonuses, and fast-track certification programs to attract new graduates. For education majors who focus on technology integration, the job outlook is even stronger—they're stepping into roles at the intersection of pedagogy and innovation. While AI can personalize lessons and track student performance, it can't replace the human side of education. Teachers mentor, motivate, and adapt - making critical, real-time decisions that shape how students learn and grow. Beyond the classroom, roles like Instructional Systems Designer are becoming increasingly important. These professionals assess learning needs and design systems for schools, companies, and training programs—blending educational insight with technical skills. Career paths include: Learning Experience Designer, Educational Technology Coordinator, Curriculum Developer, Corporate Training Manager Why it's AI-resistant: Because motivation, mentorship, and meaningful learning still require a human touch. In the era of AI, it is crucial to continually learn and adapt to new technologies and ways of working. In this AI-driven economy, it means taking courses, attending workshops and conferences, and staying up-to-date with the latest trends in your industry. Artificial Intelligence is a tool for amplifying human capabilities, not replacing them. The future belongs to graduates who can do what AI cannot: build relationships, navigate ambiguity, and create meaning from complexity.
Newsweek
02-06-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
List of Popular College Majors With High Unemployment Rates
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Your college major can play a significant role in the type of job you'll find after graduation and the amount of income you can expect in a salary. But surprisingly, some of the most popular majors have high unemployment rates, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Majors such as computer science and physics had some of the highest unemployment rates, at 6.1 and 7.8 percent, respectively, despite being considered relatively stable STEM fields. "A graduate's degree doesn't guarantee job security, and in some cases, it can make you overqualified and underemployed, especially when debt is involved," Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9Innings podcast, told Newsweek. Why It Matters The national unemployment rate was 4.2 percent in April, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Choosing certain college majors could significantly increase your chances of going without a job, according to New York Fed data. While some fields may have historically been viewed as more stable and likely to lead to a lucrative career, the new data could shift the way students choose their majors now and in the future. What To Know Computer science ranked seventh among undergraduate majors with the highest unemployment at 6.1 percent, according to the New York Fed. However, it also ranked as number one by the Princeton Review for college majors, showing the tech industry may not be living up to graduates' expectations. According to CollegeFactual, it was the 12th most popular major in the 2021-2022 school year. The full list of college majors with the highest unemployment rates was as follows: Anthropology, 9.4 percent Physics, 7.8 percent Computer Engineering, 7.5 percent Commercial Art and Graphic Design, 7.2 percent Fine Arts, 7 percent Sociology, 6.7 percent Computer Science, 6.1 percent Chemistry, 6.1 percent Information Systems and Management, 5.6 percent Public Policy and Law, 5.5 percent Graduating college students gather in Harvard Yard on May 28, 2025, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Graduating college students gather in Harvard Yard on May 28, 2025, in Cambridge, of these areas of study were far less desirable than computer science, with physics ranking as the 68th most popular major, according to CollegeFactual. Only 9,310 students obtain a bachelor's degree in anthropology each year, according to Niche. And under 7,000 earn their degree in graphic design, although many others enter the field with a slightly different degree title. Fine arts was ranked number 66 in popularity by CollegeFactual, with sociology, chemistry, information systems, and public policy coming in at numbers 25, 51, 314, and 113, respectively. Majors such as nutrition sciences, construction services, and civil engineering had some of the lowest unemployment rates, hovering between 1 percent and as low as 0.4 percent. What People Are Saying Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek: "The higher unemployment rates in computer science and computer engineering were unexpected, especially considering the direction of our economy. With AI and chip manufacturing dominating headlines, you'd think these roles would be in high demand. But maybe that's the issue—are these professionals building the very tools that will replace them?" Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: "It will undoubtedly shock many to see majors like computer engineering and computer science with unemployment rates as high as their fine arts counterparts, but there are plenty of reasons. These majors were rightfully promoted over the last two decades to many students, as demand for employees in these fields far outweighed the supply of skilled workers available." "Now, unfortunately, these same areas are dealing with oversaturation, more competition when applying for roles, and an industry that has seen layoffs over the last years as many businesses attempt to get more efficient." What Happens Next The unemployment rate for recent college graduates increased to 5.8 percent in March from 4.6 percent the previous year, according to the New York Fed. Moving forward, there could be a continued shift away from both the arts and hard sciences toward trade-focused or more generalized degrees," Thompson said. "Government funding for science and research projects has slowed, and that impacts job creation in these fields. It's possible we're seeing the effects of that play out in the data," he said.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
What to know about UW-Platteville in southwestern Wisconsin
What is now the University of Wisconsin-Platteville was founded in 1866 as Platteville Normal School, the first state teacher preparation institution in the state. It has gone through multiple expansions and changes through the years, and is now a four-year comprehensive university in the UW System. On May 19, a shelter-in-place order and large law enforcement presence rocked the school community. Officials are now saying there was an isolated incident and the shelter-in-place order has been lifted. However, the public has been asked to avoid Wilgus Hall, a dormitory. More: Shelter-in-place order lifted at UW-Platteville, but students told to avoid residence hall Here is what to know about the university. The school reported 6,391 students in fall of 2024, almost all of them undergraduate students. There were 424 graduate students. The enrollment was a small drop from the fall 2023 enrollment of 6,702. Almost two-thirds of the students are male. The student-to-teacher ration is about 20-1. Nearly half live in college-owned, -operated or -affiliated housing. A little more than 50% live off campus. The school has roughly an 88% acceptance rate for applicants. A little more than half of the applicants take the ACT, according to the website College Factual, and for the middle 50% of those students, the ACT Composite scores ranged between 20 and 26. That means the school is lightly competitive. Platteville is the largest city in Grant County, which is part of the southern Driftless Region, in the far southwest corner of the state. The city has a population of slightly less than 12,000, according to the 2020 U.S. Census. The closest big city is Dubuque, Iowa, across the Mississippi River. The university has over 40 academic programs through three colleges: College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture (BILSA), College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science (EMS), and College of Liberal Arts and Education (LAE) The school said it offers programs specializing in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; criminal justice; education; business; agriculture; and the liberal arts. Campus life includes numerous student organizations and NCAA Division III athletics. The school's nickname is the Pioneers. From 1984 to 2001, the university was home to the Chicago Bears training camp. That time period included the Bears only Super Bowl winning team, in 1985. The Bears thought the city and university offered limited distractions. Due to the Bears' history, and the area's proximity to Illinois, the Platteville area has numerous Bears fans, as opposed to the rival Green Bay Packers. This story will be updated as more information becomes available. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What to know about UW-Platteville in southwestern Wisconsin
