The number of graduate job vacancies has fallen by almost 50% over the past year, with July 2026 marking the lowest level recorded since 2016, according to new figures from job site Adzuna. The platform reported 8,383 graduate roles available in July, a significant drop from 15,397 at the same time last year.
Adzuna co-founder Andrew Hunter stated that employers have not yet found a reason to increase hiring for recent graduates. Businesses have cited increased employer national insurance and minimum wage hikes as factors making hiring more expensive, particularly for junior staff. The firm also noted a peak in graduate roles in 2017, with over 55,800 listings.
Competition among job seekers is also rising across all levels, with an average of 2.14 job seekers per vacancy in July, up from 1.93 a year earlier. Official figures indicate the UK's youth unemployment rate, covering 16-to-24-year-olds, stood at 16.2% in the three months to March 2026, with over one million young people not in education, employment, or training (Neet).
While vacancies in travel, teaching, and construction have recently increased, sectors such as healthcare, nursing, hospitality, and logistics have seen fewer job postings. Former government minister Alan Milburn is leading a review into the youth unemployment crisis, noting a shrinking number of entry-level and part-time jobs.