With COVID-19 hitting us hard, no one got a chance to shield themselves from the impact of this pandemic. Undoubtedly, such unprecedented circumstances affected the physical and mental health of millions of people worldwide.

Further, with depression, suicide, alcoholism, and anxiety are tremendously increasing, expert solutions are of paramount importance for societies and organizations. As a result, psychology degrees are trending now more than ever.

So, what's changing exactly? Let's find out.

More Students Opting For Psychology

Psychology study is famous among college students. More than 1.5 million undergraduates take introductory psychology classes every year. And the best part is that many of those opt for psychology majors. The share of students taking psychology majors is around 6.5%. And that is by far the most popular fields within science and engineering.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, it's the fourth most popular individual major. Further, graduate-level psychology is also growing with master's degrees jumped by 54% and doctorates by 32%. That's something to look forward to.

But, it does not end here.

Job Prospects Are Growing Strong Too

The phrase perfectly fits here, "blessing in disguise." But with the advent of technological advances and social media culture, the need for psychologists is skyrocketing. Plus, an unhealthy lifestyle and immense mental pressure are acting as a driving force for increasing the demand for psychologists.

In fact, as per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), psychologists' employment rate will grow by more than 15% between 2014 and 2024. Surprisingly, that's faster than any other occupation.

It does not end there. Jobs in clinical, counseling, and school psychology are expected to grow faster than other psychology fields. The spur is a result of services required by veterans with war-related trauma, or people with autism, and employees who have to work from home.


Other than that, when it comes to non-health-related fields, industrial/organizational psychology will grow by more than 15%. Shockingly, the unemployment rate in this field is low. Whether you are pursuing a psychology course from a regular university or taking an Online masters degree in psychology, you are less likely to be unemployed than in other fields. All this education is paying off well since the stigma around mental health is gradually fading.

But why? Let's explore more.

The Need For Psychologists is Growing

According to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, there is a spike in the number of people seeking professional help for their mental health problems. Also, people realize that psychology science is helping them lead a mentally healthy life. For instance, it helps them boost their cognitive performance, reduce distractions, and improve work-life balance.

As a result, psychology education is creating next-generation psychologists who have all the knowledge and understanding of modern lifestyle needs and trends.

Conclusion

A lot happened in the last few years. Technology took over many portions of the business operations and personal life. But all these modern trends also instilled various mental health issues. Anxiety, depression, and insomnia took over the lives of thousands of people. That's why the need for mental health experts, including psychologists, is growing. All of which has led to an increase in the number of organizations looking for such professionals. And eventually, that is driving students to major in psychology.