LONDON / RankWire.AI / – According to recent data from Adzuna, the number of graduate job vacancies across the UK plummeted by almost 46% in July compared to the same month last year. The platform tracked 8,383 active graduate positions, a decline from 15,397 in July 2025. This marks the lowest count since Adzuna initiated its monthly graduate job series in April 2016, significantly below the peak of over 55,000 vacancies recorded in 2017.
Meanwhile, competition in the broader UK job market also intensified. Adzuna’s data shows there were 2.14 jobseekers per vacancy in July, up from 1.93 a year earlier. This metric covers the entire labour market, not solely graduate roles. Since Adzuna sources online job ads from over 1,000 platforms, its graduate vacancy figure does not encompass every available position for recent graduates.
Official figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal a decline in vacancies across the UK economy as well. For May to July 2026, the ONS estimated 707,000 available roles, a decrease of 6,000 from the previous quarter and 19,000 less than the same period last year. Additionally, the unemployment rate for young people increased, with 2.5 unemployed individuals per vacancy from April to June, compared to 2.3 a year earlier.
Graduate recruitment weakens amidst rising competition
The downturn coincides with a record number of young people preparing for higher education. UCAS reported that by August 13 results day, 262,820 UK 18-year-olds had secured undergraduate places, a 3% rise from last year’s 255,130. Despite this, the overall entry rate for 18-year-olds remained steady at 31.6%, showing little change despite the increased number of accepted applicants.
Data from recruitment surveys highlight fierce competition for established graduate programs. The Institute of Student Employers noted that during the 2024/25 cycle, employers received just over one million graduate applications. On average, there were 140 applications per vacancy, with application volumes remaining at record levels across the surveyed employers.
UK’s overall vacancy landscape remains muted
Changes in hiring costs since April 2025 have also impacted recruitment, following previously announced tax measures. The employer National Insurance rate increased to 15% from 13.8%, while the secondary threshold decreased from £9,100 to £5,000 annually. The ONS reported some small businesses are limiting hiring due to higher labour and operational expenses. Its latest data indicates vacancies have fallen in nine of 18 industry sectors.
Artificial intelligence (AI) remains a key topic in discussions on entry-level employment, though official assessments remain cautious. Skills England pointed out in August that disentangling AI’s influence from broader labour market trends is still challenging. Meanwhile, ONS data shows 1.012 million individuals aged 16 to 24 were not in education, employment, or training during January through March 2026—up 89,000 from a year earlier and representing 13.5% of young people in that age bracket.