#Unemployment

A recent data release from a major U.S. central bank upends a long-held belief about career security: art history graduates are now more likely to be employed than computer science graduates, at least in the national snapshot for 2023. In plain terms, the art history major—once caricatured as a symbol of uncertain job prospects—appears to be faring better in the labor market than the perennial tech darling. While such findings come from an American data set, the implications ripple far beyond university campuses and can illuminate how Thai students, families, and policymakers think about future-proofing education in a fast-changing world.

Recent graduates in computer science—long regarded as having the most assured path to professional success—are confronting an unexpected reality: unemployment rates within their ranks are now among the highest for any undergraduate major, prompting a critical reevaluation of the “learn to code” mantra that has shaped global education policy and vocational planning over the past decade. According to a recent analysis based on the latest labor market report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the unemployment rate for new computer science (CS) graduates in the United States has ballooned to 6.1%, while those holding degrees in computer engineering fare even worse at 7.5% (Newsweek). This stands in stark contrast to the overall recent graduate unemployment rate of 5.8%, challenging assumptions not only in Western economies but also in rapidly digitizing societies such as Thailand.

A fresh wave of unemployment among new computer science graduates is prompting Thai educators and policymakers to rethink the country’s digital-skills strategy. In the United States, recent analysis based on the latest labor market data shows unemployment for new CS graduates around 6.1%, with computer engineering graduates at about 7.5%. While these figures come from abroad, they spark questions about whether Thailand’s own coding boom is sustainable as automation and AI reshape entry-level roles.

A wave of concern has swept through global education and tech circles as new research highlights an unexpected backlash against the widely promoted “learn to code” movement. Computer science, once championed as a surefire path to security and prosperity, has become a cautionary tale as recent university graduates face a sudden spike in joblessness, surpassing many of their non-technical peers and igniting deep conversations in Thailand about the future of digital education and the realities of the job market (Futurism).

A global debate is intensifying as new research shows a softer demand for entry-level tech roles. Computer science graduates, once seen as a passport to stable careers, are encountering higher unemployment than many non-technical peers. The findings prompt Thai educators and policymakers to re-evaluate digital education strategies and the actual job market, with implications for Thailand’s ambitious coding initiatives.

In Thailand, government and education authorities have pushed coding and digital literacy since 2023. Nationwide campaigns introduced coding in schools and aimed to equip students with tech skills for international competitiveness. These efforts are reinforced by teacher training programs and public-private partnerships designed to inspire young people to become creators of technology, not merely consumers. Yet global trends show that even as digital skills rise, the job market remains competitive and uneven, underscoring the need for nuanced planning in Thailand’s labor strategy.