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Mon, 24 Aug 2026

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 Graduate job vacancies drop by almost 50% in a year, survey suggests

Job site Adzuna said the number of graduate vacancies was the lowest since 2016

* Graduate vacancies have fallen by almost half in a year, from 15,397 to 8,383, according to Adzuna.
* This is the lowest number since Adzuna started recording such data in 2016.
* Employers are cutting entry-level roles in favour of AI and battling rising costs, including employer national insurance and minimum wage hikes.
* The average number of job seekers per vacancy has risen from 1.93 to 2.14, indicating increased competition among job seekers across all levels.
* Graduate jobs expert Charlie Ball suggests that the numbers may not be as bad for graduates as they first appear, but rather indicate a shift in how roles are advertised.
* The UK's youth unemployment rate stands at 16.2%, with over one million young people not in education, employment or training (Neet).
* The government has announced plans to create almost one million opportunities to earn or learn through its £2.5bn youth employment package.