Record University Intake Collides With Decade-Low Graduate Jobs

UK graduate vacancies plunged 45.6% year-on-year to 8,383 in July 2026 — the lowest since Adzuna began tracking in 2016. Meanwhile, a record 262,820 students start university this September, and roughly 1 million young people are already Neets (not in education, employment, or training). The pipeline's exit is narrowing fast. The Times reports AI adoption may be a factor.