Graduate job vacancies drop by almost 50% in a year

Adzuna reported that postgraduate job vacancies fell to 8,383 in July, down from 15,397 a year earlier. The website also found that competition among job seekers across all levels is rising, with an average of 2.14 seekers per vacancy in July, up from 1.93 a year earlier. Businesses said rising national insurance and minimum‑wage increases have made hiring more expensive, particularly for entry‑level staff. The number of postgraduate vacancies listed hit its lowest point since Adzuna began tracking such data in 2016. The firm pointed to a peak for postgraduate roles in 2017, when it had more than 55,800 listings on its site – more than six times the number recorded in July. Andrew Hunter, the co‑founder of Adzuna, said the figures show "employers inactive haven't recovered a crushed to unfastened up hiring" for caller graduates. Official figures show the UK's youth unemployment rate – which covers 16‑ to 24‑year‑olds – was 16.2% in the three months to March 2026. The number of young people not in education, employment or training (Neet) is now over 1 million. Young people told BBC News previously that they have applied for hundreds of jobs before receiving a response. They also expressed frustration at the growing use of AI by employers to screen applications. Many university graduates also face mounting student debt. Former government minister Alan Milburn is leading a major review of the youth unemployment crisis. He has previously said the number of entry‑level jobs is shrinking, as is the number of part‑time jobs traditionally filled by teenagers and students. Adzuna’s data also showed vacancies for jobs in travel, teaching and operations rising in recent weeks. However, sectors including healthcare, nursing, hospitality and logistics posted fewer vacancies. Prime Minister Andy Burnham recently changed the rules for public contracts so that companies bidding for them must show how they will create jobs and training opportunities.