LONDON / RankWire.AI / – The broader UK employment landscape is experiencing shifts as the number of graduate vacancies drops significantly. Recent data from Adzuna reveal that in July, the count of live graduate positions plunged by almost 46% compared to the same month in 2025. Specifically, there were 8,383 graduate vacancies available in July, a sharp decline from 15,397 a year earlier. This figure marks the lowest since Adzuna began its monthly report on graduate jobs in April 2016. It also remains well below the peak of over 55,000 vacancies recorded in 2017 during the series’ high point.
At the same time, competition for jobs across the UK workforce has grown more intense. The data from Adzuna indicate that in July, there were 2.14 jobseekers vying for each vacancy, up from 1.93 a year earlier. It’s important to note that this ratio reflects the broader labour market, not solely graduate roles. As Adzuna sources its online job advertisements from over 1,000 platforms, its tally of graduate openings does not encompass every available position for university graduates.
Official labour market statistics corroborate the downward trend in vacancies across the UK economy. The Office for National Statistics estimated that between May and July 2026, there were 707,000 vacancies. This was 6,000 fewer than in the previous three-month period and 19,000 less than the same period in the prior year. Additionally, the ONS reported an unemployment rate of 2.5 unemployed people per vacancy during April through June, an increase from 2.3 a year earlier.
Recruitment for graduate roles diminishes as competition intensifies
This decline coincides with a record number of young people preparing to start higher education. According to UCAS, 262,820 UK 18-year-olds had secured an undergraduate place by results day on August 13. That figure is 3% higher than the 255,130 recorded at the same point last year. Despite the increase in accepted offers, the entry rate for UK 18-year-olds remains steady at 31.6%, showing little change.
Data from recruitment surveys further highlight fierce competition for well-established graduate schemes. The Institute of Student Employers reported that during the 2024/25 recruitment cycle, participating employers received just over one million applications for graduate positions. On average, employers reported receiving 140 applications for each vacancy, with application volumes remaining at record levels among the companies surveyed.
The UK’s overall vacancy market stays muted
Changes in hiring expenses since April 2025 have been influenced by previously announced tax measures. The employer National Insurance rate increased to 15% from 13.8%, while the secondary threshold for annual contributions decreased to £5,000 from £9,100. According to the ONS, feedback from its vacancy survey indicates that some smaller businesses are limiting recruitment due to rising labour and operational costs. The latest figures show vacancies decreasing in nine out of 18 industry sectors.
Artificial intelligence remains a key topic in discussions about entry-level employment, although official assessments are cautious regarding its immediate impact. Skills England noted in August that isolating AI’s effect from broader labour market trends is still challenging. Meanwhile, the ONS reported that 1.012 million individuals aged 16 to 24 were not engaged in education, employment, or training during January through March 2026. This group accounted for 13.5% of young people in that age bracket, representing an increase of 89,000 from the previous year.