'Workforce crisis': key takeaways for graduates battling AI in the jobs market

A shifting graduate labour market is not unusual, said Kirsten Barnes, head of digital platform at Bright Network, which connects graduates and young professionals to employers. "Any shifts in the graduate job market this year – which typically fluctuates by 10-15% – appear to be driven by a combination of factors, including wider economic conditions and the usual fluctuations in business demand, rather than a direct impact from AI alone. We're not seeing a consistent trend across specific sectors," she said. Claire Tyler, head of insights at the Institute for Student Employers (ISE), which represents major graduate employers, said that among companies recruiting fewer graduates "none of them have said it's down to AI". Some recruitment specialists cited the recent increase in employer national insurance contributions as a factor in slowing down entry-level recruitment.