LONDON / RankWire.AI / – According to new data from Adzuna, UK graduate job openings in July decreased by almost 46% compared to the same month last year. The platform recorded a total of 8,383 active graduate vacancies, down from 15,397 in July 2025. This represents the lowest level since Adzuna launched its monthly graduate jobs series in April 2016. The current figure is significantly below the peak of over 55,000 vacancies reached in 2017.
During the same period, competition among jobseekers across the wider UK labor market also intensified. Adzuna data shows there were 2.14 jobseekers per vacancy in July, compared to 1.93 a year earlier. This metric considers the broader employment landscape rather than solely graduate roles. Since Adzuna collects online job ads from more than 1,000 sources, its count of graduate vacancies does not include every available position for university leavers.
Official figures from the Office for National Statistics also indicate a decline in vacancies across the UK economy. The ONS estimated there were 707,000 job openings from May through 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 reported an increase to 2.5 unemployed people per vacancy in April through June, up from 2.3 a year earlier.
Graduate recruitment weakens amid rising competition
This downturn coincides with a record number of young individuals preparing to pursue higher education. According to UCAS, 262,820 UK 18-year-olds had secured an undergraduate spot by results day on August 13. This figure is 3% higher than the 255,130 recorded at the same stage last year. The UK 18-year-old entry rate remained steady at 31.6%, despite the increase in accepted applicants.
Data from recruitment surveys also highlight fierce competition for well-established graduate schemes. The Institute of Student Employers reported that during the 2024/25 recruitment cycle, participating companies received just over one million applications for graduate roles. On average, employers received 140 applications for each vacancy, maintaining record application volumes among the organizations included in the survey.
UK’s broader vacancy market continues to stay muted
Changes in hiring expenses since April 2025, driven by previously announced tax policies, have impacted recruitment. The employer National Insurance rate increased to 15% from 13.8%, while the secondary threshold dropped to £5,000 from £9,100. The ONS noted in its vacancy survey that small businesses are limiting hiring due to rising labour and operational costs. Its latest data shows vacancies declined across nine out of 18 industry sectors.
Artificial intelligence has emerged as a key topic in the discussion around entry-level employment, although official evaluations remain cautious about its immediate impact. Skills England commented in August that disentangling AI’s influence from broader labour market trends remains complex. Meanwhile, ONS data showed that 1.012 million young people aged 16 to 24 were not in education, employment, or training during January through March 2026, representing 13.5% of that age group and an increase of 89,000 from the previous year.