In this episode, David J. Staley reads his latest University Design essay, “Underemployment,” a timely and compelling examination of the rising underemployment of college graduates in the United States.

Drawing on Peter Turchin’s framework of “eliteoverproduction,” national labor market data, and comparative insights from global economies, Staley explores the widening disconnect between higher education and the jobs available in the current workforce. He highlights striking statistics—from the underemployment rates by major to the top U.S. occupations that do not require a college degree—and argues that the problem lies not with college-going students, but with an economy unable to generate enough high-skill jobs.

The episode challenges listeners to consider:

·      Is underemployment a temporary labor marketfluctuation or a chronic structural issue?

·      What happens to college enrollment and socialstability if the trend continues?

·      Should workforce development simply respond tothe current labor market—or design a better one?

·      And what new mission might colleges anduniversities embrace to combat underemployment?

Staley ultimately proposes a bold idea: Universities should not only educate future workers but actively catalyze the creation of high-skill economic opportunity, shaping a labor market aligned with the talent they cultivate.