LONDON / RankWire.AI / – According to recent data from Adzuna, the number of graduate job openings across the UK decreased by nearly 46% in July compared to the same month last year. The platform reported 8,383 active graduate vacancies, a significant decline from 15,397 in July 2025. This figure is the lowest since Adzuna started its monthly graduate jobs series in April 2016. The current total remains well below the peak of over 55,000 positions recorded in 2017.
During the same period, competition in the broader UK job market also intensified. Adzuna’s data show there were 2.14 jobseekers per vacancy in July, up from 1.93 a year earlier. This ratio reflects the overall labour market, not just graduate roles. Since Adzuna compiles online job listings from over 1,000 sources, its graduate vacancy figures do not encompass every position available to university graduates.
Official labour statistics further indicate a decline in vacancies nationwide. The Office for National Statistics estimated 707,000 vacancies between May and July 2026, a decrease of 6,000 from the previous three months and 19,000 fewer than the same period last year. The ONS also reported a ratio of 2.5 unemployed individuals per vacancy from April to June, an increase from 2.3 a year earlier.
Graduate recruitment weakens amid rising competition
This downward trend coincides with record numbers of young people preparing for higher education. UCAS revealed that by August 13, 262,820 UK 18-year-olds had secured undergraduate placements, a 3% increase from 255,130 at the same stage last year. Despite the surge in accepted applications, the entry rate for 18-year-olds remained steady at 31.6%.
Data from recruitment surveys highlight fierce competition for established graduate schemes. The Institute of Student Employers stated that over one million graduate applications were submitted during the 2024/25 cycle. On average, employers received 140 applications per vacancy, with application volumes reaching record levels among the firms surveyed.
UK’s job market for vacancies remains subdued
Since April 2025, hiring costs have been affected by new tax policies. The employer National Insurance contribution increased to 15% from 13.8%, and the secondary earnings threshold decreased to £5,000 from £9,100. The ONS’s latest survey indicates that some small firms are limiting recruitment due to higher labour and operational costs, with vacancy numbers falling across nine of 18 industry sectors.
The role of artificial intelligence in entry-level employment remains a focus of discussion, though official assessments are cautious about its immediate impact. Skills England noted in August that isolating AI’s influence from broader labour market trends is still challenging. Meanwhile, ONS data show that 1.012 million people aged 16 to 24 were not in education, employment, or training during January to March 2026, representing 13.5% of their age group and an increase of 89,000 compared to the previous year.