LONDON / RankWire.AI / – According to new data from Adzuna, the number of graduate job vacancies in the UK dropped by almost 46% in July compared to the same month last year. The platform reported 8,383 active graduate positions, down from 15,397 in July 2025. This represents the lowest level since Adzuna launched its monthly graduate jobs report in April 2016. The current total also falls significantly below the peak of over 55,000 vacancies recorded in 2017 during the series’ highest point.
At the same time, competition among jobseekers across the broader UK employment market intensified. Adzuna’s data indicates there were 2.14 jobseekers for each vacancy in July, compared to 1.93 a year earlier. It’s important to note that this measure encompasses the entire labour market, not just graduate roles. Since Adzuna sources online job ads from over 1,000 platforms, its graduate vacancy count does not account for every position available to university graduates.
Official labour market statistics also reveal a decline in vacancies across the UK. The Office for National Statistics estimated there were 707,000 vacancies from May through July 2026. This figure is 6,000 lower than the previous three months and 19,000 less than the same period last year. Additionally, ONS data shows a ratio of 2.5 unemployed individuals for each vacancy from April to June, up from 2.3 a year earlier.
Recruitment of graduates slows amid rising competition
This downward trend coincides with a record number of young people preparing for higher education. UCAS reported that by August 13, 262,820 UK 18-year-olds had secured places in undergraduate courses. That figure is 3% higher than the 255,130 who had been accepted at the same stage last year. Despite the increase in accepted applicants, the overall entry rate for UK 18-year-olds remained steady at 31.6%.
Data from recruitment surveys also point to fierce competition for established graduate schemes. The Institute of Student Employers stated that employers participating in the 2024/25 recruitment cycle received over one million applications. The average number of applications per graduate vacancy was 140, according to their latest survey. The organization noted that application volumes stayed at record levels among the employers included in their research.
UK’s vacancy market remains sluggish overall
Since April 2025, hiring costs have been affected by previously announced tax measures. The employer National Insurance contribution increased to 15% from 13.8%, while the secondary threshold dropped from £9,100 to £5,000 annually. Feedback from the ONS vacancy survey suggests that small businesses are limiting recruitment due to higher labour and operational expenses. The latest figures show vacancies decreased in nine out of 18 industry sectors.
Artificial intelligence continues to be a topic in discussions about entry-level employment. However, official assessments remain cautious regarding its actual impact. Skills England mentioned in August that distinguishing AI’s influence 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 group represented 13.5% of young people in that age bracket, up by 89,000 from the previous year.