" graduates with an English degree have about a 4.9 percent chance of working in one of these food service occupations for some time between the ages of 22 and 26.

By comparison, the average among all degree holders in this age group is about 3.5 percent. So English majors are only about 1.4 percentage points more likely to work in food service than the average for all degree holders."

That is incorrect.

Using the figures supplied by the article, English majors are 40% more likely to work in food service than the average degree holder.

( ( 4.9 - 3.5 ) * 100 )/ 3.5

I shall desist from the now traditional comments about innumeracy and the possible association with certain majors...