Early Careers Employer Survey Publication 2025

Expected Hiring Environment Over the Next 12 Months

Looking ahead, 52% of employers expect the graduate hiring environment to remain the same—a slight increase from 49% in 2024. Meanwhile, 43% anticipate that it will become more difficult to hire graduates, down slightly from 46% last year. Just 5% believe it will get easier, unchanged from 2024. These results suggest a broadly stable but cautious outlook, with employers continuing to face pressures such as talent competition, graduate expectations, and salary challenges, but without a marked deterioration in conditions.

Remain the same

#1

Harder

Key Insight:

#2

Easier

The slight drop in those predicting a more difficult hiring landscape may reflect growing adaptation to graduate expectations or improvements in early engagement strategies. However, with only 5% expecting improvements, the general tone remains one of measured realism rather than optimism.

#3 43% 52% 5%

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