Vacancies plunge to 695,000 while graduate roles fall below 10,000 for first time.
The UK job market has collapsed to its worst state since the pandemic, with total vacancies falling 3% last month to 695,000 — the first time below 700,000 since January 2021, according to job site Adzuna. Graduate positions have crashed below 10,000 openings for the first time on record, signaling an unprecedented crisis for young professionals entering the workforce. The combination of AI-driven job displacement and economic uncertainty has created what analysts are calling a 'perfect storm' for UK employment.
The crisis is being accelerated by artificial intelligence adoption, with Morgan Stanley research revealing that Britain is losing more jobs to AI than it creates — hitting the UK harder than other major economies. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall acknowledged that AI will cost jobs but announced emergency plans to train up to 10 million Britons in AI skills to help the workforce adapt. More than a quarter of Britons now fear losing their jobs to AI within the next five years, according to new polling data.
For job seekers, the mathematics are brutal: posts on Reddit describe single roles receiving 400 applications within 8 hours, while employers are implementing 'ghost hiring' practices that leave candidates stranded after multiple interview rounds. The frustration is palpable across social media, with 70% of young adults reporting anxiety about jobs and the economy. Multiple forum posts describe companies postponing start dates indefinitely even after firm offers, leaving accepted candidates in employment limbo.
Despite the carnage, pockets of opportunity remain in AI-adjacent roles and renewable energy sectors, where companies are actively recruiting specialists who can bridge the technology gap. Healthcare continues to show resilience, with NHS roles maintaining steady demand even as other sectors contract. The key for survivors appears to be rapid skill adaptation and targeting the narrow sectors that are still expanding despite the broader market collapse.
One junior project manager role received 400 applications before most people finished their morning coffee.
Companies are conducting full interview processes then disappearing into thin air, leaving candidates in limbo for weeks.
Graduate starting salaries have plummeted £6,000 in six months as oversupply gives employers total pricing power.
While everyone fights over posted jobs, smart candidates are contacting companies before they even think about hiring.
All ranges down 15-25% from 2025 levels due to oversupply