Record University Intake Meets Fewest Graduate Jobs in a Decade

UK graduate vacancies fell to 8,383 in July 2026 — a 45.6% annual drop and the lowest since tracking began in 2016, per Adzuna. A record 262,820 students start university in September 2026, while about 1 million young people are already classified as Neets. More students are entering a pipeline whose exit is contracting sharply. The Times reports AI adoption may be a factor.