Best Degrees to Get in 2026: Top Picks by Employer Hiring Intent and Job Board Demand
7 Best Degrees for High-Demand Jobs in 2026: Data from Employer Hiring Intent and Job Boards
Employer hiring intent data from Cengage Group (via VnExpress, 2026) puts Finance/Accounting and Engineering at 61.3%, Computer Science at 60%, Business Administration at 58.7%, and Information Sciences/Systems at 48%. These degrees come with low unemployment rates, such as 1.42% for Computer Science and 1.88% for Finance/Accounting.
Job seekers can focus on these majors when searching platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed, where remote roles in software development and financial analysis show up frequently. Employers face flat hiring projections overall but see demand in tech and finance (NACE, 2026), with these degrees helping to fill roles amid salary increases in Business and Computer Science.
Cybersecurity demand is rising, with competitive average salaries (ingeniusprep.com, 2026). Unemployment remains below 2% across engineering fields (VnExpress/Cengage, 2026).
Why These Degrees Dominate 2026 Job Markets
Employer surveys and labor projections highlight these degrees. Cengage Group data (VnExpress, 2026) tracks hiring intent as the percentage of employers planning to recruit graduates in each major--Finance/Accounting and Engineering at 61.3%, Computer Science at 60%.
Unemployment rates stay low: 1.42% for Computer Science, 1.88% for Finance/Accounting (VnExpress/Cengage/Poets&Quants, 2026). Job growth reaches 8% for Computer Science, 12.9% for Information Sciences/Systems, and 6-7% for Business Administration (Poets&Quants/NACE, 2026).
Salaries reflect the demand: $94,212 projected for Computer Science master's, $125,770 average for Finance/Accounting-related roles, $100,000 median for Engineering (Bridgeport.edu/Poets&Quants, 2026). NACE (2026) reports salary increases for Business and Computer Science despite flat hiring.
Job boards like LinkedIn show this pattern in remote postings for Computer Science (software development) and Business (project management).
Top Degrees Ranked by Employer Hiring Intent
Ranked by Cengage hiring intent percentages (VnExpress, 2026), these majors reflect employer plans:
- Finance/Accounting (61.3%): 1.88% unemployment; supports remote financial analysis roles on job boards; $125,770 average salary (related fields, Bridgeport.edu/Poets&Quants, 2026).
- Engineering (Electrical/Mechanical/Computer) (61.3%): <2% unemployment; ~6.8% growth; $100,000 median wage (Bridgeport.edu/VnExpress, 2026). Tech engineering suits remote work.
- Computer Science (60%): 1.42% unemployment; 8% job growth; $94,212 master's salary (VnExpress/NACE/Poets&Quants, 2026).
- Business Administration/Management (58.7%): 6-7% growth; $68,831 average; noted salary rise (CNBC/NACE/UoPeople, 2026).
- Information Sciences/Systems & Management (48%): 12.9% growth (VnExpress/Poets&Quants, 2026).
- Cybersecurity/Information Security: noted demand rise; $132,962/$115,000+ salary (ingeniusprep.com, 2026; medium confidence).
Note Finance, Engineering, and Computer Science cluster near 60%, with no single consensus leader.
Comparison of Top Degrees for Job Seekers and Employers
Use this table for side-by-side evaluation, sourced from VnExpress (Cengage), NACE, Poets&Quants, and Bridgeport.edu (2026 data).
| Degree | Hiring Intent % | Unemployment % | Job Growth % | Avg Salary | Remote Suitability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finance/Accounting | 61.3 (VnExpress) | 1.88 (VnExpress) | N/A | $125,770 (Bridgeport.edu) | High (analysis roles on Indeed) |
| Engineering (Electrical/Mechanical/Computer) | 61.3 (VnExpress) | <2 (VnExpress) | ~6.8 (Bridgeport.edu) | $100,000 median (Bridgeport.edu) | High (tech types on LinkedIn) |
| Computer Science | 60 (VnExpress) | 1.42 (VnExpress) | 8 (Poets&Quants) | $94,212 master's (NACE) | High (software on LinkedIn/Indeed) |
| Business Administration | 58.7 (CNBC) | N/A | 6-7 (UoPeople) | $68,831 (UoPeople) | High (management on Indeed) |
| Information Sciences/Systems | 48 (VnExpress) | N/A | 12.9 (Poets&Quants) | N/A | High (systems roles) |
| Cybersecurity | N/A | N/A | 30+ rise (ingeniusprep.com) | $132,962 (ingeniusprep.com) | High (remote security on LinkedIn) |
Tech and business degrees show remote suitability per job board trends.
How Job Seekers Can Choose the Right Degree for Remote and High-Pay Roles
Job seekers can align degrees with demand on job platforms through these steps:
- Match to remote demand: Prioritize Computer Science (60% intent, 1.42% unemployment) or Engineering for software roles on LinkedIn; Finance/Accounting (61.3%) for analysis on Indeed.
- Check metrics: Target low unemployment (1.42-1.88%) and growth (6-12.9%) from VnExpress/NACE (2026).
- Optimize profiles: Build LinkedIn resumes highlighting these majors; search "remote computer science" for noted growth roles.
- Start with gigs: Use platforms like Upwork for entry-level Business Administration tasks (58.7% intent).
- Compare salaries: Note $94k+ in Computer Science vs. $68k in Business (NACE/Poets&Quants, 2026).
These steps leverage job boards for employability choices.
Hiring Guidance for Employers: Targeting 2026's Top Talent Pools
Employers can prioritize high-intent majors amid flat hiring and noted salary climbs:
- Focus on Finance/Accounting (61.3%), Computer Science (60%), and Engineering (61.3%) per VnExpress/Cengage (2026).
- Expect salary rises in Business/Computer Science (NACE, 2026); budget for $100k+ in Engineering.
- Use ATS tools like Workable to filter resumes by these degrees; source via LinkedIn for remote Computer Science talent.
- Target Information Sciences (48%, 12.9% growth) for systems roles; monitor Cybersecurity for noted demand (ingeniusprep.com).
- Low unemployment (<2%) supports hires from these pools.
Tie recruiting to platforms showing remote demand in tech/finance.
FAQ
Which degree has the highest employer hiring intent for 2026?
Finance/Accounting and Engineering tie at 61.3%, with Computer Science at 60% (VnExpress/Cengage, 2026).
Are computer science degrees good for remote jobs on platforms like LinkedIn?
Yes, high remote suitability for software development roles; 60% hiring intent and 1.42% unemployment (VnExpress/NACE, 2026).
What are the projected salaries for top degrees like finance or engineering?
Finance/Accounting: $125,770 average (Bridgeport.edu, 2026); Engineering: $100,000 median (Bridgeport.edu, 2026); Computer Science: $94,212 master's (NACE, 2026).
How does business administration compare to engineering for job growth?
Business: 6-7% growth (UoPeople, 2026); Engineering: ~6.8% (Bridgeport.edu, 2026); Business noted at 58.7% intent vs. Engineering's 61.3%.
Can employers expect low unemployment rates from these degree hires?
Yes, 1.42% for Computer Science, 1.88% for Finance/Accounting, <2% for Engineering (VnExpress/Poets&Quants, 2026).
Is cybersecurity a strong choice for 2026 job markets?
Yes, with noted demand rise and $132,962 average salary; high remote suitability (ingeniusprep.com, 2026; medium confidence).
Next steps: Job seekers, search LinkedIn for "remote [degree]" roles and update resumes. Employers, set ATS filters for top-intent majors like Computer Science.