Workforce Readiness: What Psychology Graduates Need to Know About the Job Market

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Workforce Readiness What Psychology Graduates
Need to Know About the Job Market

• R. Eric Landrum, PhD
• Department of Psychology
• Boise State University
• Psi Chi Symposium Finding Employment with an
  Undergraduate Degree in Psychology
• Midwestern Psychological Association
• May 2, 2008
• Chicago, IL

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Psychology Degrees Conferred in the United
States, 2005-2006

• Doctoral 4,921
• Men 1,347
• Women 3,574 (72.6)
• Masters 19,770
• Men 4,079
• Women 15,691 (79.4)

• Bachelors 88,134
• Men 19,865
• Women 68,269
• (77.5)
• Associates 1,944
• Men 446
• Women 1,498
• (77.1)

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Psychology Degrees -- National Trends
In 2005-2008, 88,134 graduates
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What Employers Want Top 20 Qualities, Skills,
and Abilities

• Listening skills
• Ability to work with others as part of a work
  team
• Getting along with others
• Desire and ability to learn
• Willingness to learn new, important skills
• Focus on customers/clients
• Interpersonal relationship skills
• Adaptability to changing situations
• Ability to suggest solutions to problem

• Problem solving skills
• Ethical decision making
• Critical thinking
• Ability to see the big picture
• Flexibility/shifting gears
• Being able to identify problems
• Working smarter to improve productivity
• Timely decision making
• Time management
• Problem-definition skills
• Personality

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Top Workplace Expectations According to
Psychology Alumni

• Possess self-discipline (including punctual
  attendance and dependability)
• Act responsibly and conscientiously
• Work well with others
• Meet the needs of others, such as clients or
  customers
• Set priorities and allocate time efficiently in
  order to meet deadlines
• Identify, prioritize, and solve problems
• Make defensible/appropriate decisions
• Possess the ability to work without supervision
• Work independently
• Manage several tasks at once

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Compared to when they graduated, psychology
alumni feel

• MORE
• Confident
• Independent
• Mature
• Assertive
• Valued

• LESS
• Shy
• Resentful
• Sad
• Dissatisfied
• Defensive

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What Can You Get Paid with Your Bachelors in
Psychology?

• There are a variety of estimates available.
  These are STARTING SALARIES
• NACE Fall 2000 28,811
• NACE Summer 2001 30,388
• NACE Fall 2001 29,952
• NACE Fall 2005 30,073

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Estimates of Average Annual Earnings and
Synthetic Work-Life Earnings for Full-Time,
Year-Round Workers by Educational Attainment