Graduate Employment Requires Radical Rethink
- Charlotte Gorse
- Jan 26
- 1 min read
Updated: May 23
Over 700,000 UK university graduates are currently out of work and claiming welfare benefits, a 46% increase since pre-pandemic levels, according to the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ). As with the global political situation, it is clear this is no blip, but a fundamental issue.
Job losses as a result of AI in the UK are cited at twice the international average, according to investment bank Morgan Stanley. Government statistics published in June however still show 88% of working-age graduates were in employment in 2024, compared with 68% of non-graduates.
The CSJ also states that those with (level four) apprenticeships earn £5,000 more than university graduates after five years.
As universities speedily diversify their offer to prepare alumni to succeed in a fast-changing and disrupted employment market, it's great to see collaborative thinking across UK-wide careers services and industry sectors encapsulated in the Graduate Future Institute rebrand.
What is clear is that institutions who will weather the storm are those proactively responding to emerging issues quickly and creatively, with strong partnerships and innovative products which anticipate growing graduate needs and impending government action.
