LONDON / RankWire.AI / – According to fresh data from Adzuna, the number of graduate job openings in the UK dropped by nearly 46% in July compared to the same month last year. The platform tracked 8,383 active graduate vacancies, a decrease from 15,397 in July 2025. This figure represents the lowest since Adzuna started its monthly graduate jobs analysis in April 2016. Moreover, this total is significantly below the peak of over 55,000 vacancies recorded in 2017 during the series’ highest point.
The broader UK employment landscape also saw heightened competition over the same period. Adzuna’s data indicates there were 2.14 jobseekers per vacancy in July, compared to 1.93 a year earlier. This metric covers the overall labour market rather than solely graduate positions. By aggregating online job advertisements from more than 1,000 sources, Adzuna’s graduate vacancy figures do not encompass every available role for recent university graduates.
Official labour market statistics further confirm a decline in vacancies across the UK economy. The Office for National Statistics estimated that there were 707,000 vacancies between May and July 2026. This was 6,000 fewer than the previous three-month period and 19,000 less than the same period last year. Additionally, the ONS reported that in April through June, there were 2.5 unemployed people for every vacancy, up from 2.3 a year earlier.
Graduate recruitment slows as competition intensifies
The downturn 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. This represented a 3% increase from the 255,130 accepted at the same stage last year. The entry rate for UK 18-year-olds remained steady at 31.6%, despite the rise in accepted applicants.
Separate recruitment reports also reveal fierce competition for established graduate schemes. The Institute of Student Employers stated that participating employers received just over one million graduate applications during the 2024/25 cycle. On average, employers saw 140 applications for each vacant graduate position in their latest recruitment survey. The organization noted that application volumes remain at record levels among the employers it surveyed.
UK’s vacancy market remains subdued amid economic shifts
Since April 2025, hiring expenses 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. The ONS reported that feedback from its vacancy survey suggests some small businesses are limiting recruitment efforts due to higher labour and operational costs. Its latest data indicates vacancies fell across nine of 18 industry sectors.
The role of artificial intelligence in entry-level employment has become a focal point in ongoing discussions, although official assessments remain cautious about its tangible impact. Skills England highlighted in August that distinguishing AI’s influence from broader labour market trends remains challenging. Meanwhile, ONS figures show that during January through March 2026, 1.012 million individuals aged 16 to 24 were not in education, employment, or training. This group accounts for 13.5% of young people in that age range and marks an increase of 89,000 compared to the previous year.