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It’s no secret that graduates are finding it increasingly difficult to find work after graduating.

It’s incredibly disheartening, knowing that you’ve put everything into obtaining your degree, and still not even being able to find a role in the field that you’ve studied.

It’s believed the hardest part of getting the degree, but the job search can truly feel like hitting a brick wall (without an exciting new world behind it).

Why is it so hard for graduates to find work today?

The answer to this question isn’t straightforward. Much of the elder generation loves to chalk it up to Gen-Z laziness, which is, in fact, just a harmful stereotype to place on an entire generation, when really, we’re simply trying our hardest in a rapidly changing era.

It’s not simply an individual problem, but a structural one. Statistically, the number of jobs on offer in the UK fell to 781,000 in the first three months of the year, according to data from the Office for National Statistics.

The ’Early Career’

‘Entry-level: must have 2 years' experience.’ Something we’ve all seen, right? It’s impossible!

How do recruiters expect graduates to have 2 years of perfect experience under their belt, especially as a group who’ve been through multiple lockdowns! The whole idea has become incredibly contradictory.

Why is this a thing?

I could go on and on about the pitfalls of AI, but it has to be mentioned here. Recruiters are more often than not using AI to sort through resumes, ticking off whether a candidate has the required years of experience, whether they’ve got the right education, and even skill set.

I mean, of course, there are requirements needed for specific roles, but what happened to employers' training new employees to build lifelong careers?

In February, it was reported that more 16–24-year-olds were not in work, education or training at the end of 2024 than at any point in the past 11 years.

That is 13.4%, or almost one out of every seven people in that age range, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Too many grads, not enough jobs!

House of Commons briefing shows that a record number of 496,000 applications were accepted in 2013. In 2023, there was a 26% increase of applications from 2014, with UK home applicants increasing by 21% and international applicants surging by 58%.

758,000 applicants submitted for full-time undergraduate places in 2024, and 565,000 of these were accepted. Essentially, university attendance has increased massively over the years.

It’s amazing that people are passionate about a subject enough to study it, and the university experience is one that is irreplaceable to most, but unfortunately, it’s hugely saturated the market.

There’s high competition for a limited number of roles. In the 2021–22 academic year, over 400,000 undergraduate degrees were awarded in the UK. In contrast, industry data from the Institute of Student Employers (ISE) shows there were only around 17,000 graduate-level vacancies in 2023–24.

This equates to roughly 1 job opening for every 24 graduates. That’s a significant shortage in graduate-level roles, which only leads to lower wages, unpaid internships, and overqualification.

Many graduates end up in unrelated or unstable jobs (retail, zero-hour contracts, gig work), just to get by.

How on earth is a graduate supposed to find a role in their industry, which they’re actually qualified for, in this climate?! It’s impossible.

The networking gap

Today is the true era of networking. Online networking is at an all-time high, especially LinkedIn networking.

Those who didn’t complete a year-in-industry or even obtain a summer internship with a high-profile company, suffer not only from a lack of experience but also a weak network.

Sometimes, connections matter more than CVs, which can be amazing for some, but also a huge disadvantage for others. Many graduates don’t have access to these grand ‘professional networks,’ especially first-gen or working-class students.

In industries where ‘who you know’ can outweigh ‘what you know,’ it can reinforce inequality and make securing opportunities far more difficult.

I, for one, find it extremely difficult to ‘sell’ myself. It’s annoying because it really is the only way to build a network, to get on recruiters' and potential employers' radar, especially during interviews.

I know I need to stand out among a sea of candidates whose CV looks almost identical to mine. But it’s just so awkward! And I know it’s a skill that I most definitely need to work on.

The mental toll

All of this can’t be easy on a young person's mind. It’s a relentless cycle of rejections, ghosting, and unpaid internships, which only amounts to a crippling chase of imposter syndrome, when a graduate knows that they’ve put in the hard work and has the qualifications.

The constant battle of validation can lead to burnout, just after a graduate has worked through countless years of academic burnout. The line between effort and reward during a job search is incredibly blurred.

The amount of unanswered applications seriously piles up and can chip away at one’s self-worth, questioning their own abilities and potential for the future.

This struggle also builds up into other areas of life. Without a stable and apt income, comes limited financial stability, which stunts young people from moving out, building savings, and gaining full independence. It becomes almost a game of survival.

Gen-Z are described as the generation who aren’t afraid to be ‘real.’ We talk about mental health, we are open about how structures disappoint us, about wider political and social issues, because they affect us all.

And the job search is one that brings anxiety, depression, and chronic stress. It’s the economic uncertainty, the digital overstimulation, and societal pressures all at once.

What can be done?

One thing I have begun to really understand the importance of is upskilling. I get it, applications are draining, and rejection stings, but adding to your skillset can make a real difference.

There are loads of free online courses out there (Google Digital Garage, FutureLearn, and LinkedIn Learning are places to start), and plenty of local workshops or webinars tailored to grads.

Even picking up a few basics in coding, digital marketing, or data analysis can boost your CV and help you stand out.

Also, don’t discredit the potential of joining your university’s alumni network or signing up for a mentorship scheme, someone might see your journey and can offer you some help, point you in the right direction, you really never know.

I mean, for me, Panelle has been an amazing opportunity that I’m extremely grateful for! Writing topics that I’m passionate about, gaining feedback from some extremely talented women, and really discovering my writing voice is something that has definitely helped me stand out in a sea of candidates.

Do something you’ll enjoy and are truly passionate about!

But it’s not always down to the grads!

Employers need to stop with the unrealistic experience on their demands for graduate roles, no one has five years of experience fresh out of university.

Instead, offer paid internships with clear routes to permanent work. Sharing advice, giving LinkedIn shoutouts, and referring young professionals can go a long way in supporting the next generation.

Ultimately, graduates really aren’t simply lazy or entitled. It’s the system that isn’t working in our favour!

Lack of support, lack of opportunity, low pay, overqualification, unrealistic expectations (I really could go on), are all elements that are making the transition into work harder than it should be.

Despite it all, this generation is resilient and determined. Although the path isn’t as it was pictured, no one is going to give up on their dream career that easily.

Everything comes with time, and there’s strength in sticking to it.

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