Jobs market for graduates is the worst it's been in at least 10 years

By JOHN-PAUL FORD ROJAS, DEPUTY BUSINESS EDITOR Published: 22:45, 24 August 2026 | Updated: 22:45, 24 August 2026 Job openings for graduates have fallen to the lowest level in at least a decade – raising fears for the prospects of the growing number of teenagers heading to university. Just 8,383 vacancies for graduates were advertised last month, according to recruitment website Adzuna – down 45.6 per cent on the same month a year earlier. It is the lowest level since the figures were first compiled in 2016 and just a fraction of the peak number of 55,000 set in mid-2017, following a 'sustained multi-year decline'. Adzuna said the 'graduate crisis' had hit a 'record low'. There was a glimmer of hope for those who are lucky enough to secure a position after university, with average graduate salaries edging up to £25,815 in July, from £25,773 in May. But the decline in roles on offer comes in stark contrast to the record number of 262,820 18-year-olds about to begin studying for degrees. The fall in the number of opportunities available to new graduates adds to the challenges facing Andy Burnham and his Chancellor John Healey as wider unemployment grows. However, the PM has sought to emphasise that he is just as keen on alternative routes into the jobs market such as technical qualifications. He has said he wants to ensure that Britain would 'value the hard hat every bit as much as the graduation cap'. Job openings for graduates have fallen to the lowest level in at least a decade Many fear that entry-level jobs in traditionally popular graduate professions such as accountancy and law are under threat because of the rise of AI – because AI can now carry out many of the routine tasks that these jobs involve. Adzuna co-founder Andrew Hunter said: 'The graduate job market keeps setting new lows, which tells us employers still haven't found a reason to open up hiring at that level.' The figures were published as part of a gloomy report showing overall vacancy levels were also down, falling 9.6 per cent to 791,490. Competition for jobs is heating up, with jobseekers per vacancy rising to 2.14, up from 1.93 a year ago, Adzuna said. Tory business spokesman Andrew Griffith said: 'Burnham must scrap Labour's red tape and cut taxes so firms can afford to hire.' The overall figures add to evidence of a 'jobs drought' under Labour after official figures last week showed vacancies at a 12-year low and unemployment spiking. Many firms have stopped hiring as they face higher labour costs and other expenses, likely to include the continuing impact of Labour's £25 billion raid on employer national insurance as well as sharp rises in the minimum wage and surging energy costs.