Part 1: The Case For The Humanities In A Changing Job Market

March 22, 2026

AI, automation, and economic uncertainty reshape the job market, many students are turning away from majors like English, history, and philosophy. We look at why the humanities still attract passionate students and why the skills they build may be more relevant than critics assume.

Guests:

Carlo Rotella, professor, English, Boston College, author, What Can I Get Out of This? Teaching and Learning in a Classroom Full of Skeptics
Nora Donovan, English major, sophomore, Boston College.

Donovan says this reaction is often rooted in the idea that humanities degrees are less valuable and can’t be connected to careers in fields like business, engineering or healthcare. Instead of english, she spent her freshman year as a psychology major.

A 2024 survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that the most valued skills hiring managers look for are communication, critical thinking and problem solving. Rotella says this is where humanities training is so valuable.