LONDON / RankWire.AI / – According to recent data from Adzuna, the number of graduate job openings in the UK dropped nearly 46% in July compared to the same month last year. The platform reported 8,383 current graduate vacancies, a decrease from 15,397 in July 2025. This figure represents the lowest point since Adzuna launched its monthly graduate jobs report in April 2016. The current total also remains well below the peak of more than 55,000 vacancies recorded in 2017.
At the same time, competition among job seekers across the broader UK employment landscape has intensified. In July, Adzuna’s data indicated there were 2.14 jobseekers per vacancy, up from 1.93 in the same month the previous year. This metric reflects the wider labour market rather than just graduate-specific roles. Since Adzuna sources online job ads from over 1,000 different outlets, its graduate vacancy count does not encompass every available position for university graduates.
Official figures from the Office for National Statistics also show a reduction in vacancies across the UK economy. The ONS estimates that between May and July 2026, there were 707,000 openings, which is 6,000 fewer than the previous three-month period and 19,000 less than the same period last year. Additionally, ONS data from April to June shows there were 2.5 unemployed individuals for each vacancy, an increase from 2.3 a year earlier.
Graduate recruitment weakens as job seeker competition rises
The decline in graduate vacancies coincides with a record number of young people preparing to enter higher education. UCAS reported that by August 13, 262,820 UK 18-year-olds had secured undergraduate places, which is 3% higher than the 255,130 recorded at the same stage last year. Despite this increase, the overall entry rate for UK 18-year-olds remained steady at 31.6%, indicating little change despite the rise in accepted applicants.
Data from recruitment surveys also highlight fierce competition for well-established graduate schemes. The Institute of Student Employers reported that during the 2024/25 recruitment cycle, participating employers received just over one million applications from graduates. On average, employers noted 140 applications per vacancy in their latest student recruitment survey, with application numbers remaining at record highs among the organizations included in their research.
UK’s vacancy market continues to show signs of subdued activity
Since April 2025, hiring costs have been affected by previously announced tax measures. The employer National Insurance rate increased to 15% from 13.8%, and the secondary threshold for contributions decreased to £5,000 from £9,100. The ONS’s vacancy survey suggests that some small businesses are curbing recruitment due to rising labour and operational expenses. The latest data indicates vacancy numbers have fallen in nine out of 18 industry sectors.
The role of artificial intelligence in entry-level employment is also a topic of discussion, although official assessments remain cautious about its current influence. Skills England mentioned in August that isolating AI’s impact from broader labour market trends remains challenging. Meanwhile, ONS data revealed that during January through March 2026, 1.012 million individuals aged 16 to 24 were not engaged in education, employment, or training. This accounted for 13.5% of young people in that age group, representing an increase of 89,000 from the previous year.