LONDON / RankWire.AI / – In July, the number of graduate job vacancies in the UK plummeted by nearly 46% compared to the same month last year, according to recent data from Adzuna. The platform’s figures show there were 8,383 active graduate positions, down from 15,397 in July 2025. This marks the lowest figure since Adzuna launched its monthly graduate jobs report in April 2016. The current total remains well below the peak of over 55,000 vacancies seen in 2017.
The overall competitiveness within the UK employment market has also intensified during this period. Adzuna’s data indicate there were 2.14 jobseekers per vacancy in July, compared to 1.93 a year earlier. This ratio encompasses the wider labour market rather than just graduate roles. Since Adzuna sources its online job ads from more than 1,000 outlets, its graduate job count does not include every position available to university graduates.
Meanwhile, official labour statistics also report a decline in vacancies across the UK. The Office for National Statistics estimated 707,000 vacancies for the period of May to July 2026, which is 6,000 fewer than the previous three months and 19,000 less than the same period last year. Additionally, the ONS recorded 2.5 unemployed people per vacancy from April to June, an increase from 2.3 a year earlier.
Graduate recruitment weakens amid rising competition
This decline in opportunities coincides with a record number of young individuals preparing to enter higher education. According to UCAS, 262,820 UK 18-year-olds had secured an undergraduate place by results day on August 13, representing a 3% increase from the 255,130 accepted at the same stage last year. Despite this rise, the entry rate for UK 18-year-olds remained steady at 31.6%, even with the increase in accepted applicants.
Data from recruitment surveys also reflect fierce competition for established graduate schemes. The Institute of Student Employers reported that during the 2024/25 recruitment cycle, employers received just over one million applications for graduate roles. The latest survey revealed an average of 140 applications per vacancy, with application volumes remaining at record levels among participating organizations.
UK’s broader vacancy market stays subdued
Changes in hiring costs since April 2025, prompted by previously announced tax policies, have also influenced the market. The employer National Insurance rate increased to 15% from 13.8%, and the secondary threshold for annual contributions dropped to £5,000 from £9,100. The ONS noted that feedback from its vacancy survey indicated some small businesses were reducing recruitment efforts due to increased labour and operational expenses. Its latest data show vacancies declined across nine out of 18 industry sectors.
Artificial intelligence remains a topic of discussion regarding its potential impact on entry-level employment, though official assessments remain cautious. Skills England highlighted in August that disentangling AI’s influence from overall labour market trends is still challenging. Meanwhile, ONS data show that 1.012 million people aged 16 to 24 were neither in education, employment, nor training during January through March 2026. This figure accounts for 13.5% of young people in that age group, representing an increase of 89,000 compared to the previous year.