Report explores career pathways for social science graduates

According to the report, while there may be anxieties about the ‘irrelevance’ of social science graduates in an AI-disrupted world, they are becoming increasingly relevant. A new report by the Social Sciences Department at Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) observes that when it comes to employability of social science graduates, employers expect familiarity with basic technical skills such as MS Office applications and Google Workspace, basic AI literacy and soft skills.It also observes how AI is now regarded as a baseline expectation rather than an additional advantage.According to the report, while there may be anxieties about the ‘irrelevance’ of social science graduates in an AI-disrupted world, they are becoming increasingly relevant.“New career categories are emerging at the intersection of humanities and digital technology, such as digital archivists, cultural data analysts, AI ethics specialists, among others,” it noted.Varying entry salaries and career pathwaysAccording to the report, think tanks and policy research organisations provide relatively direct entry points for graduates, government-adjacent roles offer another route through programme and implementation work.“Government positions and civil services involve higher barriers to entry through postgraduate qualifications or competitive examinations. Across these three pathways, demonstrated skills, communication, networking, integrity, and ownership remain important alongside formal qualifications,” it read.The entry-level salaries in the government and public sector are estimated at around ₹3 lakh per annum. In corporate and consulting sectors, a bachelor’s degree mainly leads to internships and short-term roles paying ₹3 to ₹4 lakh per annum, whereas a master’s degree may fetch an entry role that pays roughly ₹7 to ₹14 lakh per annum, and pathways from business analyst to data scientist.In policy sector, entry-level salaries range from ₹5.4 ₹8.4 per annum, ‘with progression influenced by organisational funding models, specialisation, and academic credentials’. Published - October 22, 2026 06:58 pm IST