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UK graduate vacancies nearly halve as hiring costs rise

Job site Adzuna said July graduate vacancies totaled 8,383, down from 15,397 a year earlier, with competition rising to 2.1 job seekers per opening.

Reported · Written up by our desk · North America

The number of graduate jobs in the UK fell sharply over the past year, as employers reduced entry level hiring and leaned on AI amid higher costs, according to new figures from job site Adzuna.

Adzuna said it listed 8,383 graduate vacancies in July, down from 15,397 in the same month a year earlier. The firm also found competition across job seekers increased, with an average of 2.14 candidates per vacancy in July, up from 1.93 a year earlier.

The report linked the pullback to employer national insurance and minimum wage increases that have made hiring more expensive, particularly for junior roles. Adzuna said the total hit the lowest level since it began tracking in 2016, after a peak in 2017 when it recorded more than 55,800 graduate roles.

Separately, UK youth employment official data cited by BBC Business showed the youth unemployment rate was 16.2% for the three months to March 2026, and the number of young people not in education, employment or training is now over one million. BBC Business also noted Prime Minister Andy Burnham changed rules for public contracts so bidders must show how they will create jobs and training opportunities.

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