What occupation to choose, where to move & what to study

In the UK, we have this little thing called UCAS that causes big anxiety in students. UCAS, aka the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service is what we all use to apply to universities across the country. And they happen to have a careers quiz on their website that matches you with a line of work based on your personality and the courses previous graduates studied to get there. Choosing a degree, a profession and a country to move to feels like an awful lot to ask of someone fresh out of school and can feel overwhelming. Decisions are hard, especially when it comes to your future, oh, and picking the right thing on the Menu to avoid food envy.

Which got me thinking…

Can I predict what line of work you’ll get into based on what you study or want to study? Probably, but it wouldn’t be accurate. Could I tell you where to move based on my estimations? Again, probably, but it wouldn’t be accurate.

But with the help of lots of data, government insights, other people who really know their stuff, and copious amounts of caffeine, I’m bringing you the following information:

• How Wise can help - hehe ❤️
• The most popular degrees in the EU, UK, and USA
• Job opportunities based on your degree
• Where to move and the highest employment rates in the EU, UK, and USA
• Breaking the mould - make the world your office

Before we get started…

1. I’ve gone for the EU, the UK and the USA because the world is massive and my fingers are tiny and would go numb from all the typing.

2. There’s a lot of serious stuff being covered in this article. But the one thing I wish student me knew is that your degree and your job doesn’t define you. So if you feel pressure to be successful, or make the right choices, remember that you don’t have to get everything figured out all at once. Plus doing something you love, in a place you love is more fulfilling than anything else, even if it takes a minute to get there.

Also, even Bill Gates dropped out of uni. Yes, that uni was Harvard. But you get the point. And Colonel Harland Sanders didn’t found KFC until he was 65. Dreams can come true.

Get Wise now to plan for later

How Wise can help

We make global feel local

• Our Wise account and multi-currency card can be used in over 150 countries, with over 40 currencies at your fingertips so you can save, spend and receive money like a local. And you can even set up account balances in 9 currencies.
• You can send and receive money from around the world with our mid-market exchange rates. No hidden fees, no upping the price for our benefit, no keeping information from you.
• The team at Wise built everything to be easy, fast and practical. Create as many saving spaces as you need with Wise Jars, make your physical card digital in your Apple or Google wallet, start using your card before it even arrives, have full control of your finances at all times via the App or desktop login. This applies to every country our Wise card’s available in, but if you live in the US you’ll have to wait until your physical card arrives. It’s worth the little wait, promise ❤️

The list goes on, but time does too. So, let’s get to why you’re here.

PS for more information on your region and our prices you can check out our Terms of Use and our Fees & Pricing page.

A look at the most popular fields of study out there

Thanks to theStatista Research Department and HESA, I can now overload you with information so powerful, you won’t know what to do with yourself. Here are the most popular degrees out there. If these sound too boring for you, Puppet Arts, Surf Science and Animal Psychology are courses on offer too.

The most popular degree types in Europe in 2020 🇪🇺

1) Business, administration or law

1,065,840

2) Engineering, manufacturing and construction

628,628

3) Health and welfare

570,536

4) Education

411,772

5) Arts and humanities

394,900

6) Social sciences, journalism and information

392,166

7) Natural sciences, mathematics and statistics

261,917

8) Services

211,348

9) Information and Communications Technologies

166,059

10) Agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary

79,407

The most popular degrees types in the UK between 2020-2021 🇬🇧

1) Medicine

303,310

2) Business and management

297,250

3) Social sciences

230,665

4) Design, creative, and performing arts

148,930

5) Education and teaching

122,525

6) Engineering and technology

119,760

7) Psychology

119,670

8) Law

110,480

9) Computing

107,180

10) Biology and sport sciences

100,700

The most popular degrees types in the USA between 2020-2021 🇺🇸

Business

391,375

1) Health professions and related programs

268,018

2) Social sciences and history

160,827

3) Biological and biomedical sciences

131,499

4) Psychology

126,944

5) Engineering

126,037

6) Computer and information sciences

104,874

7) Communication, journalism and related programs

90,775

8) Visual and performing arts

90,022

9) Education

89,398

Job opportunities based on your degree

Again, you don’t have to limit yourself based on what you studied. I specialised in German Literature and GDR Film, and here I am, working at a Fintech company.

Now you’ve seen what’s popular let’s pop on our binoculars and scope out some jobs 🔭 I’ve paired some of the most popular degree categories with related occupations.

Business

• Actuarial analyst
• Arbitrator
• Business adviser
• Business analyst
• Business development manager
• Arbitrator
• Data scientist
• Financial trader
• Stockbroker
• Sales manager

Psychology

• Clinical psychologist
• Counselling psychologist
• Education mental health practitioner
• Educational psychologist
• Forensic psychologist
• Further education teacher
• Health psychologist
• High intensity therapist
• Occupational psychologist
• Psychological wellbeing practitioner

Medicine

• Anaesthetist
• Nurse
• Cardiologist
• Clinical radiologist
• General practice doctor
• Hospital doctor
• Neurologist
• Ophthalmologist
• Pathologist
• Surgeon
• General Practitioner

Engineering

• Acoustical engineer
• Nuclear engineer
• Aeronautical engineer
• Operations engineer
• Electronics instructor
• Aerospace engineer
• Educator
• Geologist
• Environmental engineer
• Chemical engineer

Health and welfare / social sciences

• Youth worker
• Care manager
• Rehabilitation worker
• Psychologist or counsellor
• Local government
• Community development worker
• Community education officer
• Family support worker
• Health improvement practitioner
• Youth worker

Journalism

• Broadcast journalist
• Editorial assistant
• Magazine features editor
• Magazine journalist
• Newspaper journalist
• Political risk analyst
• Press sub-editor
• Publishing copy-editor/proofreader
• Web content manager
• Writer

Taking a looksie at the job market

Who’s hiring? Who do they want to hire? WHERE ARE THEY? Fret not. Your quest for answers is about to conclude 🔮

The fastest growing jobs around the world

The World Economic Forum dug into their data pockets and pulled out some fruity knowledge for you. Cuties 😘 The Future of Jobs Report takes a look out how the job market and skills required will change over the next 5 years. That’s enough time for you to “find yourself” with a year abroad AND do a degree. They spoke to 32,000 employers across 50 countries.

Let’s go on a date with employment rates ❤️

Countries with the highest employment rates in the EU, 2023 🇪🇺

• The Netherlands, 82.3%
• Switzerland, 79.9%
• Malta, 78.1%
• Sweden, 77.7%
• Germany, 77.4%
• Denmark, 77.1%
• Norway, 77.1%
• Estonia, 76.2%
• Czech Republic, 75.8%

🔍Source

Regions with the highest employment rates in the UK, December 2022 to February 2023 🇬🇧

• The UK as a whole, 75.8%
• Great Britain, 75.9%
• England, 76.1%
• North East 73.1%
• North West, 74.6%
• Yorkshire and The Humber, 74.7%
• East Midlands, 75.2%
• West Midlands, 73.7%
• The East, 78.4%
• London, 74.9%
• South East, 79.0%
• South West, 79.5%
• Wales, 72.4%
• Scotland, 75.5%
• Northern Ireland, 71.9%

🔍 Source

States with the highest employment rates in the USA as of July 2023 🇺🇸

• South Dakota, 98.1%
• Nebraska, 97.9%
• North Dakota, 97.9%
• Alabama, 97.7%
• Montana, 97.7%
• New Hampshire, 97.6%
• Utah, 97.6%
• Missouri, 97.5%
• Wisconsin,97.5%
• Florida, 97.4%

🔍 Source

Breaking the mould

Andddddd breathe 😩‍💨

If you’re thinking “too many numbers, too much information, zero concentration” then you sound like my kind of person. A rule breaker. Somebody who listens to Miley Cryrus’s 2010 hit “I can’t be tamed” on repeat. Good for you.

Take the alt route with these articles of mine. I SWEAR there are no numbers in sight.

What is a digital nomad and how to become one?
The best places to live as a Freelancer

Now go relax, you’ve done a lot of reading. Perhaps a nap, a hand massage, a cup of tea maybe?

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