English and humanities majors, long derided for their perceived lack of utility, are experiencing a resurgence in enrollment as the rise of artificial intelligence shifts the skills employers value most. Universities across the United States are reporting increased interest in liberal arts degrees, with recruiters and tech executives highlighting a growing demand for critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and sophisticated communication—precisely the skills these programmes cultivate.
This trend marks a significant reversal. Pre-pandemic, the number of English majors was in a broad, national decline. At the University of Colorado Boulder, for instance, the current uptick follows a period far removed from the early 2000s, when the department had over 1,500 majors and long waitlists, according to John-Michael Rivera, the school's dean of arts and humanities. Since 2021, the university has seen a 9% rise in English majors.
The 'Why' Behind the Technology
"Students want to know more about the 'why' these days. And that's what we do in humanities. We really engage in the 'why,'" Rivera said. He credits new courses focusing on the intersection of AI and humanities, such as one co-taught by an applied mathematician and a Renaissance scholar called "Inclusive Interdisciplinary Data Science for All," with helping to drive this renewed interest.
The shift in perception is also evident in the job market. "We are certainly seeing organizations look more towards the soft skills, the accountability of a job, the identity of the person, their style, their empathy — their humanity," said Bryan Ackermann, head of AI strategy and transformation at the global organisational consulting firm Korn Ferry.
Academic Innovation and Student Demand
At Rice University in Houston, enrollment in English classes has grown steadily and the Creative Writing faculty has nearly doubled in recent years, said Kathleen Canning, dean of humanities and arts. Professors are designing assignments that directly engage with AI, such as having students compare their own essays to those generated by a large language model (LLM) to analyse the differences.
"Students are trying to ascertain how to develop and advance their own capacities while AI appears to do so much for them," Canning stated. She argues the humanities offer students the tools to "probe the limits of AI" and advance their capacities for "self-reflection, interpretation, and revision."
This sentiment is echoed by students. Margo D., a 2025 graduate who double-majored in English and Earth and Climate Sciences, noted her professors demanded creativity and an original voice that AI could not grasp. "I felt really grateful to be an English major," she said.
Employment Prospects and Market Realities
Signs of hope in hiring are emerging. Daniela Amodei, cofounder of the AI company Anthropic and a literature graduate, stated in an interview that "the things that make us human will become much more important," and her firm actively seeks great communicators. Steve Johnson, editorial director of NotebookLM, has spoken of a "revenge of the humanities," with some AI firms seeking out liberal arts graduates for their philosophical thinking.
Recruiters note a changing attitude. Giancarlo Hirsch, a managing director at tech talent firm Glocomms, said companies are "really willing to speak with them and open to it and finding reasons to say yes throughout an interview process."
However, the outlook is not uniformly positive. An analysis of Census data by Georgetown University researchers found that early-career humanities and arts graduates still face a higher unemployment rate than peers in other fields. The broader labour market has also slowed, affecting all graduates.
Korn Ferry's Ackermann cautions it is still a "tad early" to declare a full revival, noting the strongest demand is currently from smaller, nimble firms. "Ask me again in a couple of months, and we're going to see that go from smaller, nimble organizations into the larger enterprises," he predicted.
The Enduring Value of Human Creativity
Despite the challenges, proponents argue the core skills of humanities majors are becoming more critical. Kevin Caffrey, a senior associate registrar at the University of Mary Washington, said his research found students pursue English because it aligns with their personal ideals and goals. "What do you need more in a company than someone who knows how to communicate with people at all different levels...? The English majors are primed to do that," Caffrey said.
Daniella LaGaccia, a 37-year-old copywriter and English literature graduate, sees AI as a tool that ultimately underscores the need for human creativity. "If everybody's using the same tools and everybody's inputting the same information, then how are you going to differentiate yourself in the market?" she asked. "That's where creative people come in."