UK graduate vacancies hit decade low as job market tightens

Adzuna’s latest figures show that only 8,383 graduate positions were listed in July, marking a 45% year-on-year fall and the lowest count since the site began collecting data in 2016. The drop occurs against a backdrop of a record 262,820 incoming university students and a rise in the number of young people classified as NEETs in the first quarter, according to the Office for National Statistics. Sectors most affected include healthcare, nursing, hospitality and logistics, while travel, teaching, construction and manufacturing are among the few areas still adding roles.

Co-founder Andrew Hunter described the trend as a reversal of the spring recovery, noting that jobseekers per vacancy have risen compared with a year ago. Higher national insurance contributions and the minimum wage increase announced by former chancellor Rachel Reeves have added to employers’ cost pressures, prompting a greater focus on automation and AI. The Institute for Public Policy Research warned that confidence among 16- to 21-year-olds is waning, and Andy Burnham said he will seek to improve youth employment through expanded technical training and apprenticeships.