But no longer. There is now evidence suggesting that Humanities graduates have made a significant contribution to UK economic growth and are adept at spotting new trends.
Research just released by Oxford University finds that the proportion of its Humanities graduates employed in key economic growth sectors rose substantially between 1960 and 1989, reaching 20 percent in some sectors.
And a substantial increase in Humanities graduates employed in growth fields often preceded the shift in government prioritising of these sectors.
"Although it is widely recognised that the humanities have intrinsic value as well as utility, the need to demonstrate the impact and value of the study of humanities to the economy and society has intensified during the recent economic crisis," said Professor Shearer West, Head of Humanities at the University of Oxford.
The research looked at the career paths of 11,000 Oxford graduates in English, History, Philosophy, Classics and Modern Languages.
You can read the full report Humanities Graduates and the British Economy: The Hidden Impact online.
Posted 15 July 2013
Image: Thinkstock
