LONDON / RankWire.AI / – According to recent data from Adzuna, the number of graduate job vacancies in the UK declined by almost 46% in July compared to the same month last year. The platform’s figures show 8,383 active graduate positions, a significant decrease from 15,397 in July 2025. This figure represents the lowest count since Adzuna launched its monthly graduate jobs report in April 2016. It is well below the peak of over 55,000 vacancies recorded in 2017 during the series’ height.
The broader UK jobs market also saw heightened competition during this period. Adzuna’s data indicates there were 2.14 jobseekers for each vacancy in July, compared to 1.93 a year earlier. This metric reflects the overall labour market, not solely graduate roles. As Adzuna sources online job postings from more than 1,000 channels, its graduate vacancy count does not encompass every opportunity available to university graduates.
Official figures from the Office for National Statistics further confirm a decline in vacancies across the UK economy. The ONS estimated that from May to July 2026, there were 707,000 vacancies, which is 6,000 fewer than in the previous three months and 19,000 less than the same period last year. Additionally, their data shows there were 2.5 unemployed people per vacancy from April to June, up from 2.3 a year earlier.
Graduate recruitment weakens amid rising competition
The decrease in vacancies coincides with a record number of young people preparing to enter higher education. UCAS reported that 262,820 UK 18-year-olds secured undergraduate places by results day on August 13, marking a 3% increase from the 255,130 recorded at the same stage last year. Despite this, the entry rate for UK 18-year-olds remained steady at 31.6%, reflecting a consistent proportion of accepted applicants amid rising numbers of offers.
Recruitment data also highlight fierce competition for established graduate schemes. The Institute of Student Employers noted that during the 2024/25 recruitment cycle, participating employers received just over one million applications. On average, each graduate vacancy attracted 140 applications, with the volume of applications reaching record levels among the organizations surveyed.
UK’s job market remains subdued beyond graduate roles
Changes in hiring costs since April 2025 are partly responsible for the current slowdown. The employer National Insurance rate increased to 15% from 13.8%, while the secondary threshold for the tax dropped to £5,000 from £9,100. According to the ONS, feedback from its vacancy survey indicates that some small businesses are limiting recruitment due to rising labour and operational costs. The latest data reveals a decline in vacancies across nine of the 18 industry sectors.
Artificial intelligence has also become a key topic in discussions about entry-level employment, though official assessments remain cautious regarding its immediate impact. Skills England commented in August that distinguishing AI’s influence from broader labour market trends remains challenging. Meanwhile, ONS figures show that 1.012 million people aged 16 to 24 were not in education, employment, or training during January to March 2026. This group represents 13.5% of young people within that age range, an increase of 89,000 from the previous year.