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Rethinking Underemployment: Are College Graduates Using Their Degrees?

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Title: Rethinking Underemployment: Are College Graduates Using Their Degrees?
Language: English
Authors: Jeff Strohl, Catherine Morris, Artem Gulish, Matthew Martinez, Georgetown University, Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW)
Source: Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. 2026.
Availability: Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. 3300 Whitehaven Street NW Suite 5000 Box 571444, Washington, DC 20057. Tel: 202-687-4922; Fax: 202-687-3110; e-mail: cewgeorgetown@georgetown.edu; Web site: http://cew.georgetown.edu
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 36
Publication Date: 2026
Sponsoring Agency: Lumina Foundation
Gates Foundation
Document Type: Reports - Evaluative
Numerical/Quantitative Data
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: College Graduates, Underemployment, Education Work Relationship, Bachelors Degrees, Income
Abstract: As recent college graduates face a bumpy landing in the job market, concerns about underemployment--a phenomenon in which workers possess more education or skills than their jobs require--are growing. Published estimates of underemployment among those with bachelor's degrees range from 25 percent to 52 percent, highlighting just how difficult it is for researchers and policymakers to gauge the scope of the problem. While underemployment among college graduates is concerning, how pervasive is it? "Rethinking Underemployment: Are College Graduates Using Their Degrees?" sheds light on the difficulty of measuring underemployment and underscores the need for a common approach. The report examines three methodological approaches to measuring underemployment and considers how educational diversity within occupations and the bachelor's degree earnings premium affect estimates.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED680341
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
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  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED680341
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  Data: Rethinking Underemployment: Are College Graduates Using Their Degrees?
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jeff+Strohl%22">Jeff Strohl</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Catherine+Morris%22">Catherine Morris</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Artem+Gulish%22">Artem Gulish</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Matthew+Martinez%22">Matthew Martinez</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Georgetown+University%2C+Center+on+Education+and+the+Workforce+%28CEW%29%22">Georgetown University, Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW)</searchLink>
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  Data: Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. 3300 Whitehaven Street NW Suite 5000 Box 571444, Washington, DC 20057. Tel: 202-687-4922; Fax: 202-687-3110; e-mail: cewgeorgetown@georgetown.edu; Web site: http://cew.georgetown.edu
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  Data: 36
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Graduates%22">College Graduates</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Underemployment%22">Underemployment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Education+Work+Relationship%22">Education Work Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Bachelors+Degrees%22">Bachelors Degrees</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Income%22">Income</searchLink>
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  Data: As recent college graduates face a bumpy landing in the job market, concerns about underemployment--a phenomenon in which workers possess more education or skills than their jobs require--are growing. Published estimates of underemployment among those with bachelor's degrees range from 25 percent to 52 percent, highlighting just how difficult it is for researchers and policymakers to gauge the scope of the problem. While underemployment among college graduates is concerning, how pervasive is it? "Rethinking Underemployment: Are College Graduates Using Their Degrees?" sheds light on the difficulty of measuring underemployment and underscores the need for a common approach. The report examines three methodological approaches to measuring underemployment and considers how educational diversity within occupations and the bachelor's degree earnings premium affect estimates.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: ED680341
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      – SubjectFull: Education Work Relationship
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      – SubjectFull: Bachelors Degrees
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