In an ever-changing job market, many college graduates are scrambling to find stable employment. For alumni of the Boston College Lynch School of Education and Human Development, there’s reassuring news:
Education is still hiring.
In The Hill’s piece, “The 10 College Majors With the Lowest Unemployment,” journalist Andrew Dorn highlights a trend that feels almost countercultural. Even during uncertain economic times, education remains one of the most reliable career paths.
So why, when hiring freezes dominate headlines, does academia continue to offer steady opportunities? He points to something simple: human interaction. Teaching, counseling, and school leadership rely on face-to-face communication, relationship-building, and community presence—things that can’t be outsourced or replaced by a screen.
At the heart of the Lynch School’s four undergraduate programs—Applied Psychology and Human Development, Transformative Education, Elementary Education, and Secondary Education—as well as its robust portfolio of graduate offerings, including Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Secondary Education, and Special Education of Moderate Support Needs, lies a shared belief in the power of human connection. While these majors span diverse disciplines, they are united by a common commitment to relationships: between teacher and student, counselor and client, and school and community.
Mariela Paez
"In this rapidly changing society with new applications of technology that are transforming professions, teaching is still at the center of promoting learning and growth for our children. Teachers engage students in ways that are social, cultural, and affective,” shared Associate Professor Mariela Páez, program director for the Early Childhood Education, M.Ed. program. “In our teacher education programs, we model for our students how to engage in this type of teaching and how to support a collaborative culture that promotes learning for all."
Grounded in Boston College’s mission to enhance the human condition, expand the human imagination, and promote justice, Lynch School students cultivate a community-centered approach. Through practicum experiences in local school districts, medical clinics, and integrated research centers, our students engage directly with the people they aim to support. By the time they graduate, they are not only professionally prepared but also deeply understand that their work begins with meaningful connection—an understanding that drives their success.
Recent 2024 Census data analyzed by the Federal Reserve backs that up. Elementary Education graduates report a 98.8% employment rate, with Secondary Education close behind at 97.9%. Lynch’s minor in Special Education stands out, too, leading with a 99.3% employment rate.
- Elementary Education graduates report a 98.8% employment rate
- Secondary Education close behind at 97.9%
- Lynch’s minor in Special Education stands out too, leading with a 99.3% employment rate.
The numbers suggest what many schools already know — trained educators are essential.
Anne Homza
Program Director of the Elementary Education programs, Anne Homza, shared, “In an era shaped by change and uncertainty, reflective educators who implement equity and justice-focused practice are finding meaning and purpose in their day-to-day professional work. The intellect and passion of our Lynch teacher candidates is impressive and inspiring. While other Gen-Z folks might be worried about a more stable and just future, our students are actively building it through their transformational work with children and families.”
At the Lynch School, those statistics feel immediate and relevant. They are reflected in practicum placements, in case study discussions in the classroom, and in meetings in the academic centers and initiatives like the Campus School, where students consistently gain hands-on experience from an early stage.
As faculty would put it, Lynch School students aren’t just studying education in theory; they’re practicing it. That emphasis on presence and preparation may be part of why its graduates continue to enter a field that, despite broader economic uncertainty, remains steady.
In a university shaped by Jesuit values, the call to be “men and women for others” feels especially fitting. And, as Dorn’s reporting suggests, careers built on serving others may ultimately prove to be among the most secure.