Up to 5 years after university, arts graduates more likely to earn less than peers – study

Doing an arts degree is hugely stimulating, diverse and equips graduates to be critical and worldly thinkers.

It may not be the best option for earning the big bucks, however.

A government-commissioned study in Ireland has shown that for up to five years after finishing university, people with arts degrees are likely to be earning less than those who studied other disciplines, The Irish Times reported.

My peers: "I got a job for after graduation with a starting salary of $75,000."
Me, as a liberal arts major: Ok. That sounds fake. But Ok.

— Mal. (@malmcg21) October 19, 2016

Research conducted by the Central Statistics Office tracked the weekly earnings of graduates from different fields between 2010 and 2015.

It showed that in their first year after graduation, arts majors were getting just EUR310 per week (US$380). Even after five years, they were still earning less than graduates of other degrees at EUR525 (US$642) per week. The gap in salaries, however, was not as large.

The good news is that graduates from arts programmes did see their weekly salary rise by 70 percent over the course of the five-year study.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, those who studied computing or ICT were getting the best money at EUR775 (US$948). Interestingly, education graduates did very well at EUR735 (US$900), followed by those who’d studied health and welfare courses EUR705 (US$863).

According to the Irish Times, “some universities have responded to concerns over the employment rates for arts graduates by shaking up their offerings, with a greater emphasis on employment opportunities through internships, research or study abroad options.”

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