Archive · 25 Aug 2026
UK Graduate Vacancies Nearly Halve as AI Reshapes Hiring
Fewer companies are advertising jobs specially aimed at new graduates in the UK.
A jobs website counted 8,383 such vacancies in July, almost half as many as last year.
This means more people are competing for each available job.
Some businesses say hiring young workers costs more because taxes and wages have increased.
They are also using artificial intelligence to help screen applications.
One expert said the graduate job market is weak, but has not completely collapsed.
Some types of jobs, including travel, teaching and construction, recently had more openings, while others had fewer.
The government says it is funding programs to help young people earn or learn.
Adzuna listed 8,383 UK graduate vacancies in July, down from 15,397 a year earlier.
Graduate vacancies reached their lowest reported level since 2016, compared with more than 55,800 in 2017.
Average competition rose to 2.14 job seekers per vacancy in July, from 1.93 a year earlier.
Businesses cited higher employer national insurance and minimum-wage costs, while young people criticized AI application screening.
Youth unemployment stood at 16.2% in the first three months of 2026, with more than one million young people not in education, employment or training.
- Who
- UK graduates and other young job seekers, employers, Adzuna, and government officials are involved.
- What
- Graduate vacancies listed on Adzuna fell nearly 50% in one year, while competition for jobs increased.
- When
- The comparison covers July figures against the same month a year earlier; youth unemployment data covers the first three months of 2026.
- Where
- The United Kingdom.
- Why
- Employers cited rising hiring costs and the increased use of AI, while experts also said firms may be advertising fewer roles specifically for graduates.
Concerns About the Graduate Jobs Market
Government and Expert Reassurance
Scale of the downturn
Concerns About the Graduate Jobs Market
Adzuna data shows graduate vacancies have nearly halved year over year and reached their lowest reported level since 2016.
Government and Expert Reassurance
Graduate jobs expert Charlie Ball said the market is weak but has not collapsed, suggesting some roles may still exist even when they are not advertised specifically for graduates.
Reasons for fewer openings
Concerns About the Graduate Jobs Market
Young people and the report point to employers using AI to screen applications, while higher costs may be reducing entry-level hiring.
Government and Expert Reassurance
Businesses say employer national insurance and minimum-wage increases have made junior staff more expensive to hire, and the government says overall employment has increased by 253,000 people over the year.
Policy response
Concerns About the Graduate Jobs Market
The reported youth unemployment crisis includes a 16.2% youth unemployment rate and more than one million young people not in education, employment or training.
Government and Expert Reassurance
The government says it is restoring opportunity through a £2.5 billion youth employment package, and public-contract rules were changed to require bidders to show how they will create jobs and training opportunities.
- Graduate vacancies in July
- 8,383 listed by Adzuna
- Vacancies one year earlier
- 15,397
- Change in vacancies
- Nearly 50% decline
- Job-seeker competition
- 2.14 job seekers per vacancy in July, up from 1.93 a year earlier
- Previous peak
- More than 55,800 graduate roles were listed in 2017
- Youth unemployment
- 16.2% among 16- to 24-year-olds in the first three months of 2026
- Youth employment package
- The government says its £2.5 billion package will deliver almost one million opportunities to earn or learn