Liberal arts may help grads more than tech

CHICAGO, June 5 (UPI) -- Liberal arts degrees may help college graduates land jobs better than business, engineering and high-tech degrees, a U.S. outplacement firm said Tuesday.

"The more technical and specialized your degree is, the narrower your field of opportunities," said John Challenger, chief executive officer of Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc.

"This is fine when the job market for these areas is strong, but when it is not, these individuals can have a very difficult time. Those with degrees in liberal arts, history, English, etc., may be better able to move and adapt as conditions change."

"Soft skills" are also growing in importance, as employers increasingly seek workers with enthusiasm, drive, creativity, critical thinking, initiative and oral communication, Challenger said.

"Employers know that if they find a worker with a solid foundation of soft skills, he or she can be taught the more technical aspects of the job," he said. "Soft skills, on the other hand, are much more difficult to teach."