But that is objectively untrue. Most people don’t double major, and most college graduates are employed. Moreover, there’s no evidence that double majors have lower unemployment rates or a better probability of getting a job than single majors.
Also, “STEM” is a catch-all - biology, computer science, certain business and chemistry majors have similar unemployment rates as some social science majors and economics majors have higher unemployment rates than humanities majors. See here:
https://georgetown.app.box.com/s/9t0p5tm0qhejyy8t8hub
That is an incredibly narrow and quite factually inaccurate way of looking at majors. For one counterexample, I majored in psychology in undergrad, my PhD is in public health, and I currently work in technology (and not human services). I know some people who majored in science fields who currently work in human services. I know a lot of people with psychology majors who work in finance or marketing. I know a philosophy major who works in finance. I know a history major in management, and I know a dance major in management. I know an economics major who works in human services.
Actually, their better bet would be taking some prerequisite coursework and getting an MS in computer science, or trying to move laterally into the field through experience (e.g., maybe their next move is in a science & technology policy position, and they take some programming courses through their employer). An AAS in technology may or may not help much depending on what the goal is.
At risk of sounding flippant: So what?
-First of all, we’re talking about employment, not salary. I think most people who go into human services-related careers, for example, realize that they aren’t going to be earning the same amount as a software developer or a marketing manager. That’s not why they chose the career. If a history professor is perfectly content with his $70K salary and loves his job, who cares that he doesn’t make $100K like the fresh-out-of-undergrad software developer?
There are also lots of plumbers and carpenters who probably make more than lots of social workers and teachers. But if you don’t want to be a plumber or a carpenter, that doesn’t matter.
This is probably the most irritating part of the conversation about college degrees these days - the presumption that the value of a career is wholly encapsulated by salary.
Still, the original contention wasn’t about salary - it’s no secret that STEM jobs pay more on average. The original discussion was about employment levels.
-Also, that means that 84% (aka most) of non-STEM PhD holders make more than AAS majors.