Normally there is an implied understanding of relatedness. A medical doctor with a medical degree might reasonably suggest that their degree was required, but a medical doctor with an art history degree wouldn't have a leg to stand on. Clearly anyone can become a doctor under that scenario.
Granted, the work of a programmer is derived from computer science, like the work of a janitor is derived from chemistry, but it is a stretch to think those jobs are related. Someone who applies the work of scientists is not doing the same work as the scientist. Perhaps they would be right to say that programmers and janitors do require a degree, but it wouldn't be a CS/chemistry degree. And, well, a business manager has absolutely nothing to do with CS. That one is well and truly like a medical doctor with an art history degree situation.
So, strictly speaking, those jobs would be considered underemployed when done so under a CS degree in any reasonable context. But you do rightfully highlight the bigger problem, which is to say that it is self-reported. Perhaps your key point here is that CS graduates are more likely than art history majors to be out to lunch? Given the stereotypes, that may be a fair assertion.
> Granted, the work of a programmer is derived from computer science, like the work of a janitor is derived from chemistry,
Nobody enrols in a chemistry degree with the intention of pursuing a janitorial career
Most people who enrol in CS degrees do so with the intention of pursuing a career as a professional programmer. At the undergraduate level, people studying CS because they want a career in CS research are a minority
A person who wants a career in programming, enrols in a CS degree because they believe it will help get them there, graduates and then gets a programming job, far from being “underemployed”, is employed in the exact job they did the degree in order to get
Granted, the work of a programmer is derived from computer science, like the work of a janitor is derived from chemistry, but it is a stretch to think those jobs are related. Someone who applies the work of scientists is not doing the same work as the scientist. Perhaps they would be right to say that programmers and janitors do require a degree, but it wouldn't be a CS/chemistry degree. And, well, a business manager has absolutely nothing to do with CS. That one is well and truly like a medical doctor with an art history degree situation.
So, strictly speaking, those jobs would be considered underemployed when done so under a CS degree in any reasonable context. But you do rightfully highlight the bigger problem, which is to say that it is self-reported. Perhaps your key point here is that CS graduates are more likely than art history majors to be out to lunch? Given the stereotypes, that may be a fair assertion.