Which Degrees Do Employers Value Most?

Whether or not you have a career plan in mind, knowing that your degree will lead to a successful job after graduation is crucial — especially as tuition costs continue to rise. Whether you've chosen a subject you love, or made a strategic decision to study a discipline with strong career prospects and a high salary, the results of the QS Global Employer Survey 2016 may interest you.

A survey of employers around the world found that computer science and information systems students are the most highly valued, closely followed by business, accounting and electrical engineering graduates. If you're unsure what to study at university and need help deciding, one of the degrees listed below may be useful.

The other part of the list shows that classics graduates are generally the least easily employed, closely followed by students of theology and philosophy.

The top five most employer-valued disciplines are:

1. Computer Science and Information Systems
2. Business and Management Studies
3. Accounting and Finance
4. Electrical and Electronic Engineering
5. Economics and Econometrics

The bottom five disciplines are:

1. Classics and Ancient History
2. Theology, Divinity and Religious Studies
3. Philosophy
4. History
5. Anthropology

Of course, if you want to study a subject in the second part of the list, don't be discouraged — survey results depend on which sectors the responding employers work in, namely industry and global sectors. For example, employers from universities and research institutions did not respond to the survey, yet they have traditionally been important employers of arts, humanities and social sciences graduates.

Some of these disciplines also produce graduates that only one or two sectors particularly need. For example, 29.6% of consulting firms surveyed said they would prioritise hiring anthropology graduates.

For instance, among the consulting industry employers — the sector with the highest response rate — 29.63% said they would prioritise hiring anthropology graduates, showing that there is also market demand for graduates from these disciplines. In addition, employers from universities and research institutions didn't respond to the survey, which is another reason why arts, humanities and social sciences subjects appear lower in the ranking.

So although the results of the QS Global Employer Survey 2016 can help students make informed choices, those who want to follow their heart should not be discouraged. The right degree in any subject can open up opportunities, knowledge and potential.

Keep an eye out for our upcoming white paper, which will examine the 2017 QS Global Employer and Applicant Surveys, comparing student and employer expectations — we'll also explore the conflict between what students expect from their degrees and the realities of the current job market.