NextChapter

Occupations needing a bachelor's degree projected to shrink most

Computer programmers is projected to shrink most of the occupations that typically need a bachelor's degree: −7.3% in employment from 2025 to 2035.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from open jobs we verified on employer career sites.

Key facts

  • #1 Computer programmers, Bachelor's degree: −7.3%
  • #2 News analysts, reporters, and journalists, Bachelor's degree: −5.9%
  • #3 Credit analysts, Bachelor's degree: −4.3%
  • 87 occupations ranked across all occupations
  • Data as of November 2026
  1. 1Computer programmers Bachelor's degree−7.3%
  2. 2News analysts, reporters, and journalists Bachelor's degree−5.9%
  3. 3Credit analysts Bachelor's degree−4.3%
  4. 4Network and computer systems administrators Bachelor's degree−4.1%
  5. 5Insurance underwriters Bachelor's degree−3.8%
  6. 6Advertising and promotions managers Bachelor's degree−3.7%
  7. 7Education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare Bachelor's degree−3.1%
  8. 8Cost estimators Bachelor's degree−3.1%
  9. 9Graphic designers Bachelor's degree−1.7%
  10. 10Tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents Bachelor's degree−1.0%

What stands out

  • Insurance underwriters is the largest market in the top ten, with 1,056 open jobs behind its figure.
  • Occupations with fewer than 200 open jobs are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.

Why this ranking matters

What it shows

Occupations differ in whether they are expected to add or lose jobs over the next decade. Ranking them by the Bureau of Labor Statistics' projection shows which routes are widening and which are narrowing.

How to use it

If you are choosing between occupations that need the same schooling, growth is a reason to prefer one. A shrinking occupation can still have openings today, so read it with the open-jobs list.

The top 25

  1. 1

    Computer programmers Bachelor's degree

    −7.3%

    Open jobs
    329
    Median posted pay
    $106k
    Projected growth to 2035
    −7.3%
    Workers in the occupation
    110,800

    Based on 329 openings.

  2. 2

    News analysts, reporters, and journalists Bachelor's degree

    −5.9%

    Open jobs
    231
    Median posted pay
    Not enough pay data
    Projected growth to 2035
    −5.9%
    Workers in the occupation
    47,100

    Based on 231 openings.

  3. 3

    Credit analysts Bachelor's degree

    −4.3%

    Open jobs
    712
    Median posted pay
    $85k
    Projected growth to 2035
    −4.3%
    Workers in the occupation
    64,700

    Based on 712 openings.

  4. 4

    Network and computer systems administrators Bachelor's degree

    −4.1%

    Open jobs
    1,005
    Median posted pay
    $130k
    Projected growth to 2035
    −4.1%
    Workers in the occupation
    323,600

    Based on 1,005 openings.

  5. 5

    Insurance underwriters Bachelor's degree

    −3.8%

    Open jobs
    1,056
    Median posted pay
    $110k
    Projected growth to 2035
    −3.8%
    Workers in the occupation
    125,600

    Based on 1,056 openings.

  6. 6

    Advertising and promotions managers Bachelor's degree

    −3.7%

    Open jobs
    319
    Median posted pay
    $159k
    Projected growth to 2035
    −3.7%
    Workers in the occupation
    33,200

    Based on 319 openings.

  7. 7

    Education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare Bachelor's degree

    −3.1%

    Open jobs
    350
    Median posted pay
    $99k
    Projected growth to 2035
    −3.1%
    Workers in the occupation
    91,900

    Based on 350 openings.

  8. 8

    Cost estimators Bachelor's degree

    −3.1%

    Open jobs
    227
    Median posted pay
    $143k
    Projected growth to 2035
    −3.1%
    Workers in the occupation
    226,400

    Based on 227 openings.

  9. 9

    Graphic designers Bachelor's degree

    −1.7%

    Open jobs
    530
    Median posted pay
    $115k
    Projected growth to 2035
    −1.7%
    Workers in the occupation
    253,100

    Based on 530 openings.

  10. 10

    Tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents Bachelor's degree

    −1.0%

    Open jobs
    413
    Median posted pay
    $135k
    Projected growth to 2035
    −1.0%
    Workers in the occupation
    60,100

    Based on 413 openings.

  11. 11

    Database administrators Bachelor's degree

    −0.1%

    Open jobs
    991
    Median posted pay
    $125k
    Projected growth to 2035
    −0.1%
    Workers in the occupation
    75,000

    Based on 991 openings.

  12. 12

    Nuclear engineers Bachelor's degree

    +0.4%

    Open jobs
    263
    Median posted pay
    $163k
    Projected growth to 2035
    +0.4%
    Workers in the occupation
    16,600

    Based on 263 openings.

  13. 13

    Technical writers Bachelor's degree

    +0.8%

    Open jobs
    214
    Median posted pay
    $136k
    Projected growth to 2035
    +0.8%
    Workers in the occupation
    46,400

    Based on 214 openings.

  14. 14

    Compensation and benefits managers Bachelor's degree

    +1.1%

    Open jobs
    775
    Median posted pay
    $183k
    Projected growth to 2035
    +1.1%
    Workers in the occupation
    23,700

    Based on 775 openings.

  15. 15

    Loan officers Bachelor's degree

    +1.1%

    Open jobs
    700
    Median posted pay
    Not enough pay data
    Projected growth to 2035
    +1.1%
    Workers in the occupation
    283,000

    Based on 700 openings.

  16. 16

    Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products Bachelor's degree

    +1.2%

    Open jobs
    1,515
    Median posted pay
    $93k
    Projected growth to 2035
    +1.2%
    Workers in the occupation
    292,000

    Based on 1,515 openings.

  17. 17

    Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents Bachelor's degree

    +1.4%

    Open jobs
    1,210
    Median posted pay
    $104k
    Projected growth to 2035
    +1.4%
    Workers in the occupation
    531,000

    Based on 1,210 openings.

  18. 18

    Personal financial advisors Bachelor's degree

    +1.4%

    Open jobs
    874
    Median posted pay
    $115k
    Projected growth to 2035
    +1.4%
    Workers in the occupation
    299,400

    Based on 874 openings.

  19. 19

    Public relations specialists Bachelor's degree

    +1.8%

    Open jobs
    611
    Median posted pay
    $68k
    Projected growth to 2035
    +1.8%
    Workers in the occupation
    314,500

    Based on 611 openings.

  20. 20

    Budget analysts Bachelor's degree

    +1.9%

    Open jobs
    378
    Median posted pay
    $109k
    Projected growth to 2035
    +1.9%
    Workers in the occupation
    50,400

    Based on 378 openings.

  21. 21

    Commercial and industrial designers Bachelor's degree

    +2.4%

    Open jobs
    246
    Median posted pay
    $211k
    Projected growth to 2035
    +2.4%
    Workers in the occupation
    35,400

    Based on 246 openings.

  22. 22

    Industrial production managers Bachelor's degree

    +2.6%

    Open jobs
    3,776
    Median posted pay
    $139k
    Projected growth to 2035
    +2.6%
    Workers in the occupation
    252,100

    Based on 3,776 openings.

  23. 23

    Sales engineers Bachelor's degree

    +2.8%

    Open jobs
    1,597
    Median posted pay
    $155k
    Projected growth to 2035
    +2.8%
    Workers in the occupation
    51,600

    Based on 1,597 openings.

  24. 24

    Chief executives Bachelor's degree

    +3.2%

    Open jobs
    1,799
    Median posted pay
    $183k
    Projected growth to 2035
    +3.2%
    Workers in the occupation
    291,600

    Based on 1,799 openings.

  25. 25

    Engineers, all other Bachelor's degree

    +3.7%

    Open jobs
    4,036
    Median posted pay
    $134k
    Projected growth to 2035
    +3.7%
    Workers in the occupation
    166,700

    Based on 4,036 openings.

Full ranking

All 87 occupations that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankOccupationScoreSample
1Computer programmers Bachelor's degree−7.3%329
2News analysts, reporters, and journalists Bachelor's degree−5.9%231
3Credit analysts Bachelor's degree−4.3%712
4Network and computer systems administrators Bachelor's degree−4.1%1,005
5Insurance underwriters Bachelor's degree−3.8%1,056
6Advertising and promotions managers Bachelor's degree−3.7%319
7Education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare Bachelor's degree−3.1%350
8Cost estimators Bachelor's degree−3.1%227
9Graphic designers Bachelor's degree−1.7%530
10Tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents Bachelor's degree−1.0%413
11Database administrators Bachelor's degree−0.1%991
12Nuclear engineers Bachelor's degree+0.4%263
13Technical writers Bachelor's degree+0.8%214
14Compensation and benefits managers Bachelor's degree+1.1%775
15Loan officers Bachelor's degree+1.1%700
16Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products Bachelor's degree+1.2%1,515
17Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents Bachelor's degree+1.4%1,210
18Personal financial advisors Bachelor's degree+1.4%874
19Public relations specialists Bachelor's degree+1.8%611
20Budget analysts Bachelor's degree+1.9%378
21Commercial and industrial designers Bachelor's degree+2.4%246
22Industrial production managers Bachelor's degree+2.6%3,776
23Sales engineers Bachelor's degree+2.8%1,597
24Chief executives Bachelor's degree+3.2%1,799
25Engineers, all other Bachelor's degree+3.7%4,036
26Electronics engineers, except computer Bachelor's degree+3.7%1,082
27Compliance officers Bachelor's degree+3.8%1,255
28Web developers Bachelor's degree+3.8%322
29Business operations specialists, all other Bachelor's degree+3.9%922
30Purchasing managers Bachelor's degree+4.0%2,279
31Producers and directors Bachelor's degree+4.0%1,021
32Financial specialists, all other Bachelor's degree+4.1%617
33Art directors Bachelor's degree+4.2%1,034
34Sales managers Bachelor's degree+4.5%14,081
35Facilities managers Bachelor's degree+4.6%1,802
36Chemical engineers Bachelor's degree+4.7%422
37Managers, all other Bachelor's degree+4.9%3,682
38General and operations managers Bachelor's degree+5.0%6,351
39Accountants and auditors Bachelor's degree+5.0%5,169
40Computer occupations, all other Bachelor's degree+5.1%13,156
41Administrative services managers Bachelor's degree+5.2%210
42Fundraising managers Bachelor's degree+5.4%1,100
43Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors Bachelor's degree+5.4%552
44Architectural and engineering managers Bachelor's degree+5.5%4,420
45Human resources managers Bachelor's degree+5.5%2,149
46Registered nurses Bachelor's degree+5.6%329
47Software quality assurance analysts and testers Bachelor's degree+5.7%1,533
48Public relations managers Bachelor's degree+5.7%857
49Meeting, convention, and event planners Bachelor's degree+5.8%381
50Web and digital interface designers Bachelor's degree+6.0%1,861
51Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists Bachelor's degree+6.0%1,187
52Environmental scientists and specialists, including health Bachelor's degree+6.1%521
53Environmental engineers Bachelor's degree+6.3%317
54Human resources specialists Bachelor's degree+6.4%6,107
55Civil engineers Bachelor's degree+6.4%3,069
56Training and development managers Bachelor's degree+6.4%652
57Project management specialists Bachelor's degree+6.7%5,902
58Marketing managers Bachelor's degree+6.9%10,376
59Agricultural engineers Bachelor's degree+6.9%401
60Market research analysts and marketing specialists Bachelor's degree+7.0%3,630
61Financial and investment analysts Bachelor's degree+7.2%3,776
62Social and community service managers Bachelor's degree+7.2%207
63Financial risk specialists Bachelor's degree+7.4%604
64Materials engineers Bachelor's degree+7.5%234
65Bioengineers and biomedical engineers Bachelor's degree+7.6%253
66Computer network architects Bachelor's degree+7.7%1,319
67Computer systems analysts Bachelor's degree+7.9%2,047
68Natural sciences managers Bachelor's degree+8.2%1,223
69Aerospace engineers Bachelor's degree+8.3%1,119
70Construction managers Bachelor's degree+9.1%2,245
71Computer hardware engineers Bachelor's degree+9.1%2,146
72Actuaries Bachelor's degree+9.2%740
73Database architects Bachelor's degree+9.4%2,645
74Financial managers Bachelor's degree+9.7%9,566
75Electrical engineers Bachelor's degree+9.9%4,785
76Management analysts Bachelor's degree+10.1%1,876
77Software developers Bachelor's degree+10.2%15,559
78Training and development specialists Bachelor's degree+10.8%359
79Mechanical engineers Bachelor's degree+11.2%5,326
80Operations research analysts Bachelor's degree+11.9%1,055
81Industrial engineers Bachelor's degree+12.4%7,345
82Computer and information systems managers Bachelor's degree+15.8%2,821
83Logisticians Bachelor's degree+17.6%2,707
84Occupational health and safety specialists Bachelor's degree+18.5%366
85Information security analysts Bachelor's degree+21.0%669
86Medical and health services managers Bachelor's degree+24.2%4,005
87Data scientists Bachelor's degree+34.6%4,534

How this ranking works

An occupation is a standard occupation (SOC) code, and the group is the typical entry-level education the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists for it: here, a bachelor's degree. An occupation's score is the projected change in its employment from 2025 to 2035.

A posting does not state a degree. Each is matched to its standard occupation, and the education shown is what the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists as typical for entering that occupation. Some employers ask for more or less, and about one posting in a hundred has an occupation we could not match, which is left out. Projected growth is the Bureau of Labor Statistics' change in employment from 2025 to 2035 for the occupation, a national forecast and not a promise for any one city. Only occupations with at least 200 open jobs are ranked.

Sample bar: occupations with fewer than 200 openings are not ranked.

Sources: NextChapter job data: open professional roles, matched to standard occupation (SOC) codes; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025-35: typical entry-level education and projected employment change by occupation. Data as of November 2026.

Our job data covers professional roles on the career sites of employers we track, so figures describe that market, not every job. Spot an error? Tell us.

Questions

Which occupation ranks first: occupations needing a bachelor's degree projected to shrink most?
Computer programmers is projected to shrink most of the occupations that typically need a bachelor's degree: −7.3% in employment from 2025 to 2035.
How many occupations are ranked?
87 occupations have at least 200 open jobs, so the list has 87 entries.
How is the ranking calculated?
An occupation is a standard occupation (SOC) code, and the group is the typical entry-level education the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists for it: here, a bachelor's degree. An occupation's score is the projected change in its employment from 2025 to 2035. A posting does not state a degree. Each is matched to its standard occupation, and the education shown is what the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists as typical for entering that occupation. Some employers ask for more or less, and about one posting in a hundred has an occupation we could not match, which is left out. Projected growth is the Bureau of Labor Statistics' change in employment from 2025 to 2035 for the occupation, a national forecast and not a promise for any one city. Only occupations with at least 200 open jobs are ranked.
How often is it updated?
Every month. This is the November 2026 edition. Older editions stay on this site at their own dated addresses.

More rankings

Cite this ranking

NextChapter, “Occupations needing a bachelor's degree projected to shrink most,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/occupations-needing-a-bachelors-degree-projected-to-shrink-most

Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/occupations-needing-a-bachelors-degree-projected-to-shrink-most">Occupations needing a bachelor's degree projected to shrink most (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>

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