LONDON / RankWire.AI / – In July, the number of graduate job openings across the UK dropped nearly 50% compared to the same month last year, indicating a more competitive entry-level job market. Adzuna reported 8,383 graduate roles advertised in July, down from 15,397 in July 2025. This represents a decrease of approximately 46%. The total is also the lowest since the platform started tracking graduate vacancies in April 2016. At its peak in 2017, graduate listings surpassed 55,000.
The competition for jobs has also intensified in the wider UK labour market. In July, there were 2.14 jobseekers for every vacancy, up from 1.93 a year earlier. This ratio includes all jobs across the economy, not just graduate roles. The data on graduate vacancies come from online ads collected from over 1,000 sources. Therefore, these figures reflect advertised graduate opportunities within that dataset, not every potential job for university graduates.
Official statistics show weaker demand overall. The Office for National Statistics estimated 707,000 vacancies between May and July 2026. This is 6,000 fewer than in the previous three months and 19,000 fewer than the same period last year. Additionally, the number of unemployed people per vacancy increased to 2.5 from 2.3 during April through June, compared to the same period last year.
More competition for graduate applicants
This summer saw a record number of young people securing UK undergraduate placements. UCAS announced that 262,820 UK 18-year-olds gained a place by results day on August 13. That number is 3% higher than the 255,130 at the same stage in 2025. The entry rate for UK 18-year-olds reached 31.6%. These figures provide context for a labour market where many future graduates will compete for professional and entry-level roles.
Employers running formal graduate recruitment programs are already facing stiff competition. The Institute of Student Employers recorded just over one million graduate applications during the 2024/25 cycle. On average, employers received 140 applications for each vacancy. These numbers highlight the high demand among applicants. They also coincide with the recent sharp decline in advertised graduate vacancies in the latest jobs data.
UK job market remains strained
Since April 2025, employment costs have increased due to changes in employer National Insurance. The contribution rate went up to 15% from 13.8%. The secondary threshold dropped from £9,100 to £5,000 annually. The latest vacancy survey from the national statistics office shows some small businesses have limited hiring due to higher labour and operational costs. The data also indicates vacancy levels declined across nine of the 18 sectors surveyed.
The role of artificial intelligence in entry-level jobs has also entered discussions, though official analysis on its specific impact remains limited. Skills England mentioned in August that separating AI effects from broader labour trends is challenging. Meanwhile, between January and March 2026, 1.012 million people aged 16 to 24 were outside education, employment, or training. This group represented 13.5% of their age bracket, an increase of 89,000 from the previous year.