The UK careers fair returned to Sheffield last Friday, and new figures show that graduate job vacancies have dropped below 10,000 for the first time in a decade.
According to Adzuna’s job market report, advertised job vacancies have fallen below 700,000 and the labour market currently resembles pandemic levels.
Further figures from ONS show that one-third of adults in employment believed that AI could put their jobs at risk.
Former Sheffield University alumni and branch manager for SAAFE education, Lauren Greaves, said her friend lost her marketing job and was replaced by AI.
Ms Greaves said: “There are quite a lot of roles that are taken over with technology nowadays, which is a shame. But it doesn’t really affect us because our roles involve working with children, and we wouldn’t be able to replace teachers.”
Khaled Ayesha, who attended the fair to explore his career options, said that for him, the rise of AI hasn’t changed the outcome because he still waits weeks for no response.
Mr Ayesha thinks it is hard to show employers that you can meet the criteria of the role, and said: “Since AI’s come out, I don’t even know why. You’d think with AI it’d be a lot easier to say you don’t match because of XYZ conditions.”
According to the Institute of Student Employers (ISE, 2025), the proportion of employers using AI in early careers recruitment has increased by 23 per cent from 2024 to 2025.
The pandemic’s impact on the job market is still being felt by jobseekers, and training provider Lucy Moore thinks people spend more time online than outside, as job vacancies are predominantly online, and applications are also made digitally.
Ms Moore said: “I think it might be like the social aspects of things like people are a bit scared to leave the house and communicate with others”.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) representative Chris Mannering said there are still opportunities for graduates in the civil service.
Mr Mannering said:” We see so many applications that are just obviously a standard CV or personal statement pushed into a job that doesn’t really suit.”
From his perspective, employers appreciate job candidates who do not overuse AI and tailor each job application to the job role.
Sheffield SCITT employer Nicole Martinson values candidates that show enthusiasm, potential and drive, and agrees that more needs to be done to bridge the gap for graduates in this difficult job market.
Ms Martinson said: “I know AI is a great tool, but if you are using that, please, please change it so that it’s a bit more personal to you.”
“Come to a careers fair and speak to as many people as possible, and then really think about your occupation, and you will be successful.”
