Study shows Architecture Graduates with Highest Unemployment Rate

Jan 2012

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A recent study released by Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce states that students who have recently graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in architecture have experience the highest rates of unemployment. The information was gathered using 2009 and 2010 data from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. Continue reading after the break for more detail information about the study.

Undergraduate architecture students are reportedly facing 13.9 percent unemployment rates, compared to the other struggling majors in the arts at 11.1 percent and the humanities at 9.4 percent. These numbers are significantly higher than the 8.9 percent unemployment rate of recent graduates with Bachelor’s Degrees. Health (5.4 percent), education (5.4 percent) and agriculture and natural resources (7 percent) were among the majors with the lowest unemployment rates.

The statics are stirring up more debates over the value college, questioning whether the increasing cost of higher education is worth the investment. However, when compared to the 22.9 percent unemployment rate for those with only a high school diploma the numbers start looking a little better. Furthermore, the Georgetown press release suggests considering a graduate degree. Recent Architecture graduates with a Master’s Degree are reportedly experiencing only a 7.7 percent unemployment rate.

Click here to view the full report.

Reference: Georgetown University, The Washington Post

Cite:
Rosenfield , Karissa . "Study shows Architecture Graduates with Highest Unemployment Rate" 04 Jan 2012. ArchDaily. Accessed 23 Feb 2012. <http://www.archdaily.com/197351>

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Matthew Claus says:

Is this because offices are requiring a masters degree or because they simply aren’t hiring anyone?

# January 4, 2012 at 23:25

Omegaoveride says:

Its a service profession that relies on the economy. Slow economy = no one designing something = no need for an architect or recent intern architect. So many firms don’t need to hire new hands.

Sadly, you don’t need an architect to build a building. People come to an architect to have something designed.

# January 6, 2012 at 19:55

Jim Prendergast says:

isn’t this a bit misleading as most architecture programs are now 4 year bachelors plus 2 year masters professional programs? a bachelocom degree is no longer a viable level of education for an architect and therefore less employable. a professional degree is required for eligibility for the licensing exam.

# January 4, 2012 at 23:42

Nik Akarepis says:

5 year degrees in the states are professional degrees so no need to obtain your master’s.

# January 5, 2012 at 05:00

Martin Hedin says:

Economic meltdown?

# January 5, 2012 at 06:49

mario says:

Only masters degree. Bachelor its to little on the world.

# January 5, 2012 at 07:24

Viktor says:

not because of higher requirements of Masters but because there are too many architects already and too many who wants to be it, a disbalance

# January 5, 2012 at 08:42

TOP x Architecture says:

we need to create more wars to knock down buildings, then there will be enough work for everyone

# January 5, 2012 at 09:07

jeb says:

yes, and maybe to kill some architects to free up some space in the profession.

# January 5, 2012 at 09:35

-1

jim says:

this just in, oil under hadids house. im calling halliburton and we’ll be there with the army tomorrow!

# January 5, 2012 at 10:50

Aaron Aardvark says:

And this is newsworthy?

The public wants what it will not pay for. Cf. movies!

Until institutional and private HOARDING cease
will built design commissions commence–approx. 10 years.

Get used to it.

# January 5, 2012 at 10:55

dUFFY says:

Essentially I believe there is no one single cause, a slow economic climate coupled with ever increasing employment standards for young graduates simply means there are not as many jobs and the jobs that are available are harder to get.
I firmly believe that Architecture is at risk because we simply cannot go on building at the rate we have in the 20th Century, that doesn’t mean we cant start recycling the cities we have already built, it simply means the 21st century will not be characterised by progress at all costs.

# January 5, 2012 at 11:12

Ivan says:

Y U NO HAVE JOBS!?

# January 6, 2012 at 09:07

Katie Schmidt says:

You can have a professional degree out of an undergraduate program – it’s called “Bachelor of Architecture”. The non-professional degree is called “Bachelor of Science in Architecture”.

# January 6, 2012 at 13:54

Ye it works in SA as follows, your undergraduate degree is called a B.A.S (Bachelor of Architectural Science) and your post graduate is an M.Arch (Professional) (Masters of architecture) and the professional bit means you can go into practicing after you write you SAIA exams, as opposed to a M.Arch (Research) that is the standard otherwise you can do a B.Tech Undergraduate do 3rd Year design and go straight into your M.Arch.

# January 6, 2012 at 14:50

blerim says:

U can all come and work to albania where there is a incredible grow of the economy. High payment and job oportunities for all of u here, with such a strong economy that the world crisis had no effect here .
Welcome all

# January 7, 2012 at 13:13

Jenn Kennedy says:

While doing research for my book – Success by Design: Revealing Profiles of California Architects, I found over and over that architects are ill equipped for business. Neither under grad nor grad programs offer much more than a single pro practices course. Architects at all levels need to better understand business, marketing, client relations and how to strategically build a business, not just a building. I welcome anyone who wants to contribute to my blog on this topic.

# January 11, 2012 at 18:43

Mudashir Gafar Olaiya says: