Forbes got its information from a Payscale survey that asked people if they were working part-time but wanting to work full-time and if they were working in a job that uses their education.
1. General Science
% Underemployed: 49%
% of part-time workers who want to be full-time: 18%
% working in a job that doesn't use their education/training: 82%
2. Radio/Television & Film Production
% Underemployed: 48%
% of part-time workers who want to be full-time: 27%
% working in a job that doesn't use their education/training: 73%
3. Social Science
% Underemployed: 48%
% of part-time workers who want to be full-time: 16%
% working in a job that doesn't use their education/training: 85%
4. Health Sciences
% Underemployed: 47%
% of part-time workers who want to be full-time: 17%
% working in a job that doesn't use their education/training: 83%
5. Exercise Science
% Underemployed: 47%
% of part-time workers who want to be full-time: 31%
% working in a job that doesn't use their education/training: 70%
6. Health Care Management
% Underemployed: 46%
% of part-time workers who want to be full-time: 12%
% working in a job that doesn't use their education/training: 88%
7. Theater Arts
% Underemployed: 46%
% of part-time workers who want to be full-time: 20%
% working in a job that doesn't use their education/training: 80%
8. Criminal Justice
% Underemployed: 46%
% of part-time workers who want to be full-time: 12%
% working in a job that doesn't use their education/training: 88%
9. Art
% Underemployed: 45%
% of part-time workers who want to be full-time: 20%
% working in a job that doesn't use their education/training: 80%
10. Human Development & Family Studies
% Underemployed: 45%
% of part-time workers who want to be full-time: 25%
% working in a job that doesn't use their education/training: 75%
The 10 Most Underemployed Majors - In Photos: The 10 Most Underemployed College Majors Right Now - Forbes
I can definitely see why all of these have high underemployment rates. General science is too broad. There aren't many jobs in radio/television and film production that require a degree. Social science is too broad. Health science curricula vary widely, but the major tends to be very general. There is not much you can do with an exercise science degree. At least where I live, most school districts want coaches who can teach something other than P.E, and there aren't many openings for athletic trainers. Also, these exercise science programs may not meet state requirements for licensure as an athletic trainer or rehabilitation therapist, and you don't need a degree to become a personal trainer. From previous research, I've seen that a lot of health care management jobs require healthcare experience (usually nursing). If you've never worked as a healthcare provider, then you're going to have a hard time finding a job.
You don't need a degree to work in theater arts, and becoming successful in acting requires being in the right place at the right time. There are also not many teaching jobs in theater arts since it's just a middle and high school elective. Virtually no entry-level corrections jobs require a degree. Most police officer jobs do not require a degree, so criminal justice majors usually end up in jobs that don't require a degree. Parole/probation jobs are probably the most abundant occupations in the CJ field that require a degree, but most CJ majors do not want to work in community supervision. A lot of CJ majors also end up working as security guards and legal secretaries. I think the underemployment rates for art and human development & family studies are self-explanatory.
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