College Grads Most Likely to Have Full-Time Work

NEW YORK (MainStreet) — Unemployed college grads shouldn’t be so quick to discount the degree they spent four years earning. According to a new Gallup poll, 73% of college grads who are working are doing so full time, making them the group with the highest percentage of full-time employment.

Comparatively, only 61% of Americans with some college education and 58% of those with just a high school degree are working full time.

Gallup defines workers who are “fully employed” as those employed full time for an employer or themselves and those who are working part time and not seeking a full-time position.

In general, young adults ages 18-29, minorities, women and those with lower levels of education are significantly more likely than other groups to be underemployed. Gallup says these groups are also the most likely to be unemployed, but “the range for unemployment across demographics is much smaller overall.”

Results indicate men are more likely than women to be working full time for an employer, while women are more likely than men to be working part time with no desire to work a full 40 hours (or more) a week. 

Additionally, only 29% of employees older than 65 are working full time, but 41% are satisfied with a part-time job.

Overall, Gallup finds a majority of Americans who are working are at least in full-time positions.

“Unemployment remains at historically high levels and economists warn of a possible double dip,” Gallup writes in a blog post. “Despite this, the majority of U.S. workers are working full time in formal jobs.”

The poll is based on telephone interviews conducted between Jan. 2 and Sept. 30 with approximately 160,000 adults in the U.S. who are part of the workforce. 

The job market for college grads has been improving. Back in April, an annual study from the National Association of Colleges and Employers found employers were increasingly inclined to hire recent graduates.

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