A much-circulated figure says 6.1% of recent computer-science graduates were unemployed, compared with 5.8% of recent graduates overall. That comparison was reported as based on 2023 data; it is not a live unemployment rate, a measure of every computer-science degree holder, or proof that learning to code caused graduates to struggle. It is a reason to look closely at what the statistic measures before judging the value of a degree.
What the headline’s unemployment figure measures
A Yahoo-hosted article reproducing the Futurism headline attributes the 6.1% figure for recent computer-science graduates and the 5.8% comparison for recent graduates overall to 2023 data. The article reports those figures; the retrieved text of the New York Fed data feature does not expose the major-level table value, so the 6.1% should be treated as a figure reported in that coverage, not as an independently verified current rate.
The New York Fed defines recent graduates as people ages 22–27 with at least a bachelor’s degree and excludes people enrolled in school from these measures. The figures are national, not specific to New York. The by-major outcomes draw on the latest annual period available from the American Community Survey, whereas the overall unemployment and underemployment highlights update quarterly. As a result, a by-major number should not be read as a real-time snapshot. The Fed also says the data feature is not an official estimate of the New York Fed, its president, the Federal Reserve System, or the FOMC. See the New York Fed’s definitions and data feature.
Unemployment is not the same as underemployment
Unemployment and underemployment describe different outcomes. In the New York Fed’s measure, underemployment means a graduate works in a job that typically does not require a bachelor’s degree. The classification uses education-and-training information from the Department of Labor’s O*NET survey. It does not necessarily mean the person’s work is unrelated to their major.
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The New York Fed’s latest overall recent-graduate highlights in the retrieved data feature report about 5.6% unemployment and 42% underemployment in 2026 Q2. Those are figures for recent graduates overall, not computer-science graduates specifically, and they should not be substituted for a by-major rate.
Why a graduate statistic and software-job outlook can both be true
The New York Fed figure groups people by their college major and age range, then reports an observed labor-market outcome for a particular annual survey period. The Bureau of Labor Statistics instead projects employment for an occupation across career stages and over a future period. Its 2026 Occupational Outlook Handbook projects 10% employment growth for software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers from 2025 to 2035, with about 106,100 openings per year on average.
These measures do not contradict each other: a field can have projected occupational openings while some recent graduates are unemployed or working in jobs that do not require a degree. The BLS projection is context about anticipated occupation-wide demand, not a rebuttal to a recent-graduate statistic or a guarantee that a particular graduate will find a job. The projection and preparation guidance appear in the BLS outlook for software developers, QA analysts, and testers.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What this means if you are weighing a computer-science degree
The reported 6.1% figure alone cannot tell you whether a degree is worth its cost for you. It is not a placement rate six months after graduation, does not describe all computer-science graduates, and does not establish that the major has no demand. Nor does it show that a “learn to code” campaign, artificial intelligence, outsourcing, or an oversupply of graduates caused the result.
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For a personal-finance decision, weigh the full cost of attendance and any borrowing against the kinds of roles you intend to pursue, the skills those roles require, and the uncertainty of entering a labor market. The BLS says software developers typically need a bachelor’s degree in computer and information technology or a related field, a strong programming background, and continuing familiarity with new tools and languages; internships can provide experience. Those are general qualifications, not a promise of employment or a guarantee that any one degree, course, or internship will pay off.
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