How Liberal Arts Can Help in Today's Job Market?
Liberal arts is a holistic and multidisciplinary education integrating two or more subjects of different disciplines. It aims to enhance students' critical thinking and research skills by providing knowledge of various domains. As of now, very few colleges in India offer liberal arts education, but the number is expected to grow with the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
In this era, where research and technological advancement are happening at a rapid pace; it is important to equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills across multiple fields. Liberal arts education provides students with problem-solving abilities and interpersonal skills that will help them succeed in their career path after graduation.
Liberal Arts Job Market
With skills like creativity, communication, problem-solving, and research; students of liberal arts are prepared to work in numerous industries. Today’s market seeks individuals who have extensive knowledge of multiple domains.
Plenty of job opportunities are available to students related to the specialisation they have chosen. Industries/sectors for liberal arts, their concerned job profile, and the job market are discussed in the below section.
Also Read: Liberal Education as per NEP 2020
Media and Entertainment
Earlier print media was the only source of information and its range was limited. Then rapid change from broadcasting on the radio to telecast on television, and now social media has changed the media and entertainment industry entirely.
Liberal arts courses offer various specialisations in media and entertainment. It equips students with theoretical and practical knowledge on how to succeed in the media and entertainment world. Below are some of the job roles that graduates can opt for in media and entertainment.
Job Profile | Average Salary | Market Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|
Rs. 4.1 LPA | - | |
Rs. 3.6 LPA | 5.50 per cent | |
Rs. 2.8 LPA | - | |
Rs. 30.0 LPA | - | |
Rs. 8.7 LPA | 22.4 per cent | |
Rs. 4.0 LPA | 2.5 per cent | |
Rs. 6.0 LPA | 6 per cent |
Salary Source: Ambition Box
Note: The above-mentioned global market growth rate is from 2022 to 2032 and taken from multiple authentic sources***
IT (Information Technology)
The IT industry is one of the most booming industries in the world right now, as every operation of the private and public sectors is running online. In 2022, the Indian ICT (Information and Communications Technology) market size was valued at US $139.08 billion.
By the end of 2027, it is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.85 per cent with a value of US $329.77 billion [Source: Global Data]. B.Sc Mathematics Hons, B.Sc Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Hons, and B.Sc Applied Mathematics are some liberal arts degrees that will help students get jobs in the IT industry.
Job Profile | Average Salary | Market Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|
Rs. 8.5 LPA | 30 per cent | |
Rs. 6.4 LPA | 27.3 per cent | |
Rs. 5.8 LPA | 30 per cent | |
Rs. 14.4 LPA | 35 per cent | |
Rs. 12.8 LPA | 38 per cent |
Salary Source: Ambition Box and Glassdoor
Note: The above-mentioned global market growth rate is from 2022 to 2032 and taken from multiple authentic sources***
Education
Education is the backbone of any nation and every developed country has invested a lot in the education sector to strengthen its economy. Liberal arts courses such as BA in Liberal Arts and MA in Liberal Arts specialise candidates to succeed in the education sector.
By 2027, the Indian education market is expected to have an annual growth rate of 13.39 per cent and a market volume of US $106.50 million [Source: Statista]. In the below table, we have compiled job profiles and their salary in the education sector that candidates can opt for.
Job Profile | Average Salary | Market Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|
Rs. 3.57 LPA | 18 per cent | |
Rs. 15.3 LPA | 8 per cent | |
Rs. 4.0 LPA | 8 per cent | |
Rs. 7.7 LPA | - |
Salary Source: Ambition Box
Note: The above-mentioned global market growth rate is from 2022 to 2032 and taken from multiple authentic sources***
FinTech
Finance is the study of capital assets, currency, investing, and budgeting. FinTech refers to the blend of financial service with technology. In 2022, the Indian FinTechs were the second most funded startups. This industry is expected to reach US $2.1 trillion by 2030, as per the report of Invest India.
Liberal arts degrees in Finance, Statistics, and Economics open up career opportunities for students in the fintech industry.
Job Profile | Average Salary | Market Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|
Rs. 10.0 LPA | 15.4 per cent | |
Rs. 6.6 LPA | 11.5 per cent | |
Rs. 16.4 LPA | 6 per cent | |
Rs. 4.3 LPA | 13 per cent | |
Trade Analyst | Rs. 4.7 LPA | 13 per cent |
Rs. 4.4 LPA | 4 per cent | |
Investment Analyst | Rs. 10.8 LPA | 1.31 per cent |
Salary Source: Ambition Box and Glassdoor
Note: The above-mentioned global market growth rate is from 2022 to 2032 and taken from multiple authentic sources***
Management
Management is a broad term that includes every industry from manufacturing to technology and marketing to finance. Managers are professionals who are needed in almost all industries. Liberal arts education prepares students for various managerial positions, as it offers a combination of multiple subjects that enhance students' critical thinking and problem-solving.
Job Profile | Average Salary | Market Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|
Rs. 11.0 LPA | 10.5 per cent | |
Rs. 10.0 LPA | 10.5 per cent | |
Rs. 9.7 LPA | 7.3 per cent | |
Rs. 12.4 LPA | 6 per cent | |
Rs. 21.3 LPA | 6 per cent | |
Rs. 13.8 LPA | 2 per cent | |
Rs. 5.7 LPA | - |
Salary Source: Ambition Box and Payscale
Note: The above-mentioned global market growth rate is from 2022 to 2032 and taken from multiple authentic sources***
Art and Craft
This digital evolution has changed the art and craft industry significantly. Before social media, the engagement and visibility of professionals working in this industry were minimal. Social media has changed the course of time and now many such professionals are popular on various platforms.
With their reach, the income of professionals working in this industry has also increased, as various brands have started collaborating with them. Liberals arts is one of the most popular education among individuals interested in art and craft. This is because, now such individuals can study their area of interest with other subjects such as Science.
Job Profile | Average Salary | Market Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|
Rs. 3.7 LPA | 4-5 per cent | |
Painter | Rs. 2.5 LPA | 1 per cent |
Rs. 9.2 LPA | 6 per cent | |
Rs. 3.7 LPA | 3 per cent | |
Rs. 5.3 LPA | 7 per cent |
Salary Source: Ambition Box and Payscale
Note: The above-mentioned global market growth rate is from 2022 to 2032 and taken from multiple authentic sources***
Liberal arts graduates can also find success in a wide range of other sectors beyond traditional fields. Graduates can also join any government department/organisation after clearing the relevant entrance exam. With the knowledge of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), graduates have a high chance of success in any career path they choose.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
No, the need for maths as a compulsory subject only comes when you are pursuing a course related to mathematics or statistics. For other courses, it is not a compulsory subject.
Liberal arts focus on providing knowledge of multiple subjects in one single degree. It includes subjects like literature, history, philosophy, and social sciences. In fine arts, the emphasis is more on creative subjects such as design, painting, theatre, and the like.
Yes, with the implementation of NEP 2020, liberal arts education is gaining popularity. In India, more and more colleges have started providing liberal arts courses.
Candidates with a liberal arts degree have a variety of career options after graduation. They can enter into media, finance, education, IT, art and craft industries, depending on their specialisation.
The qualifications for a liberal arts degree depend on the level of education. For a UG degree, candidates are required to have 10+2 with a minimum of 50 per cent marks.
