In 2023, graduates in the United Kingdom found themselves entangled in a highly competitive job market with limited opportunities. Employers reported receiving an average of 86 applications for each graduate vacancy, marking a 23% increase from the previous year. The landscape appears increasingly bleak as 42% of university-educated workers outside London now occupy positions that do not require a degree. This trend reflects a significant rise from 31% in 1993, with regions such as Lincolnshire and Cumbria witnessing more than half of their graduates working in non-graduate jobs. These figures highlight a growing disconnect between academic qualifications and available career opportunities.
Compounding the issue, 54% of employers expressed difficulty filling at least one graduate role, representing an 11% surge in recruitment challenges. Despite the increasing volume of job applicants, employers struggle to find candidates that meet their specific needs. Concurrently, UK employer investment in skills training has sharply declined, falling 19% per employee in real terms between 2011 and 2022. Larger businesses and sectors such as primary and public services have experienced even steeper declines, witnessing reductions of 35%, 44%, and 38% respectively.
Graduates from the class of 2022 have also found the transition into full-time work challenging, with only 61% securing employment within 15 months post-graduation. However, many of these roles are non-graduate positions, with 26.4% of graduates aged 21-30 engaged in medium or low-skilled jobs and 5.5% remaining unemployed. Financial constraints often force graduates to return to their hometowns instead of pursuing opportunities in larger cities. The job search process has been described as "soul-destroying," with some applicants enduring months or even years in saturated fields without success.
A significant number of graduates report being "ghosted" by companies after completing online assessments or waiting extended periods for responses. Many feel overqualified for the roles they apply for and end up accepting non-graduate jobs in hospitality, retail, administration, call centers, supply teaching, or temporary positions on minimum wage to make ends meet. Applicants frequently submit dozens or even hundreds of applications without securing an interview, highlighting the intense competition.
A modern languages and literature graduate from Edinburgh shared her experience of sending out five applications weekly while working full-time, securing only four interviews and one offer for a minimum wage internship, which was later retracted. She described the competition as "extreme."
“The competition is extreme.” – A 25-year-old modern languages and literature graduate from Edinburgh
Graduates express frustration over how employers handle the application process. An individual whose name has been changed remarked:
“Employers know they have a lot of choice and many treat you poorly in the application process because of it. It’s very depressing.”
Joshua Morgan, another respondent, emphasized the barriers new entrants face:
“geared so much against people coming in.” – Joshua Morgan
He further noted:
“Amazing people from my course are still looking.” – Joshua Morgan
The lack of placements during university years also plays a significant role in post-graduation struggles. A 21-year-old from Suffolk lamented the missed opportunity due to financial constraints:
“I wish I’d known how important placements were – I had to drop my placement year as I couldn’t find any placements to apply to. There were a couple but I couldn’t afford commuting to London to then work for free.” – A 21-year-old from Suffolk
In contrast, some graduates like Noah found success by showcasing additional skills such as proficiency in Python:
“Although I didn’t necessarily have the skills they expected for a software engineer, Python gave me a bit of an edge, and my now manager picked up that I was easy to get along and work with in a team.” – Noah
For overseas respondents, the job market's current state is aptly described as "insane":
“The job market is so insane right now.” – A respondent from overseas
Emma, another graduate, reflected on changing perceptions about hard work and success:
“My parents’ idea of ‘if you work hard, you’ll get what you want’ doesn’t really work any more.” – Emma