LONDON / RankWire.AI / – According to new data from Adzuna, the number of graduate job vacancies in the UK dropped nearly 46% in July compared to the previous year. The platform listed 8,383 active graduate roles, down from 15,397 in July 2025. This marks the lowest level since Adzuna launched its monthly graduate jobs report in April 2016. The current total is well below the peak of over 55,000 vacancies recorded in 2017 during the series’ high point.
The broader UK jobs market also saw increased competition during the same period. Adzuna reported 2.14 jobseekers for each vacancy in July, up from 1.93 a year earlier. This statistic covers the wider labour market and not just graduate roles. Adzuna compiles online job ads from more than 1,000 sources, so its graduate vacancy count does not include every available position for university graduates.
Official figures from the Office for National Statistics show a similar trend of fewer vacancies across the UK economy. The ONS estimated 707,000 vacancies between May and July 2026. This was 6,000 less than in the previous three months and 19,000 below the same period last year. The ONS also reported 2.5 unemployed people per vacancy from April to June, an increase from 2.3 a year earlier.
Graduate recruitment weakens amid rising competition
The decline comes as record numbers of young people prepare for higher education. UCAS reported that 262,820 UK 18-year-olds had secured university places by results day on August 13. That was 3% higher than the 255,130 students at the same point last year. The entry rate for UK 18-year-olds was 31.6%, remaining steady despite the increase in accepted applicants.
At the same time, data on recruitment show fierce competition for well-established graduate schemes. The Institute of Student Employers said that during the 2024/25 cycle, participating employers received just over one million graduate applications. On average, there were 140 applications for each graduate vacancy in its latest survey. The organization added that application numbers remain at record levels among the employers it studied.
UK vacancy market stays subdued overall
Since April 2025, hiring costs have been affected by new tax measures. The employer National Insurance rate increased to 15% from 13.8%, while the secondary threshold dropped to £5,000 from £9,100 annually. According to the ONS, some small businesses are limiting recruitment due to rising labour and operational expenses. Their latest data shows vacancies declined in nine out of 18 industry sectors.
The role of artificial intelligence in entry-level jobs remains a topic of debate. Official assessments are cautious about AI’s immediate impact. Skills England noted in August that distinguishing AI’s influence from broader labour market trends remains challenging. Meanwhile, ONS data shows that 1.012 million young people aged 16 to 24 were not in education, employment, or training from January to March 2026. This accounted for 13.5% of that age group and marked an increase of 89,000 from the previous year.