1) Today, upon request of the division chair, I'm giving a short, data-based presentation to the faculty in the Humanities division meeting. The subject is career prospects for our majors. Here are the key points:
2) Unemployment rates for majors ranging from math and economics to fine arts and history are not measurably different from the average for all fields of study, according to the NCES. 
3) [See chart above] Weird aggregated categories like 'liberal arts and humanities' and 'STEM' are bullshit categories and not to be trusted. We have more precise measurements specific degrees [see again chart above].
4) Underemployment is perhaps the greater concern. Underemployment is (generally) when one has a job but that job doesn't make much use of their degree, or they could've gotten that job without their degree. Note: not much variation in probability of underemployment either:
5) Here's an easier to read snapshot of the Burning Glass / Strada underemployment chart:
6) OK, but what about salaries? Again, there are differences, but 'humanities' versus 'STEM' doesn't tell the story of those differences much at all. A snapshot of median salaries by major (age 25-29):
7) When people say 'but STEM salaries are so much higher,' you need to keep in mind that 'STEM' is a fake category. 'Humanities' is a fake category too.
8) 'But I'm pre-med, so 'the humanities' aren't for me.' Well, have you seen data on MCAT scores and med. school admission? H/t @pashulman
@pashulman 9) 'But I'm applying to law school...'
@pashulman @DailyNousEditor 11) The main takeaway: Categories like 'STEM' and 'humanities' are misleading and fuel false impressions about presumptive gaps in employment prospects for different majors. These are marketing labels that have become tools of propaganda. We should correct the record. /end
@pashulman @DailyNousEditor Addendum: You'll note that I haven't tagged history in these charts, but have tagged arts subjects. That's because at Colby history in the Social Sciences division and the Humanities division includes the arts. Ordinarily I'd include history (whether they like it or not).
