Calling all recent university graduates – the time for fretting about whether you’ll ever get a job could be ending.
Hiring in the UK could finally be on the up, with 47 per cent of employers offering entry-level positions from July (entry-level is classed as an early-career role, usually aimed at people 18 to 25). That’s according to ManpowerGroup’s Employment Outlook Survey, which surveyed 2,061 employers of all sizes and sectors across the UK between January and April about their hiring intentions for the third quarter of this year.
It’s up nearly 15 per cent from this period last year, when the same survey described the UK employment market as “hitting rock bottom”.
Prospects for university graduates have looked bleaker than ever. Graduate unemployment rose to 6 per cent in 2025 and 700,000 jobless graduates were found to be claiming benefits. And one in 10 graduates are earning less than the National Living Wage five years after leaving university, according to research from Policy Exchange.
Amidst a rise in non-degree pathways, and universities scrambling to prove their value, it will come as much-needed assurance to many grads that some employers are still looking for degrees and – in the face of AI taking over – place a strong emphasis on soft, human skills like leadership, relationship-building, problem solving and communication.
Last year, the graduate employment market was described as ‘at rock bottom’ (Photo: Abraham Gonzalez Fernandez/Getty)“Graduate employers are after the fact that the people have gone and experienced life in a different environment, probably had to live on their own and fend for themselves to an extent. They have actually put themselves through the university workload, and managed themselves and their time,” says Lee Chant, commercial staffing managing director at Manpower.
There’s one caveat, though: graduates should be prepared to keep an open mind and consider roles outside their initial field. Applications are still expected to remain high, and the job market won’t change overnight from employers currently having the upper hand.
Below we share our pick of sectors and companies hiring graduate roles, what degree is required, and what they pay.
Finance and insurance
Around 42 per cent of UK finance and insurance will be open to graduate roles this summer, according to the survey.
Arguably the most lucrative is in the world of broking. Business loan company Portman Finance Group, for example, has taken on 50 graduates over the past four years, with plans to grow its intake.
Portman graduates start on £36,000 for the duration of the two-year programme. Once they qualify as a commercial finance broker at the end, they are eligible for uncapped commission, and typically £70,000 to £85,000. In their second year, this rises to between £85,000 and £120,000 in year two, and over £150,000 in year three.
All the education you need to apply is a minimum “ABB” standard of A-levels, and a 2:1 or above university degree across any discipline.
But don’t be tempted just by the money – it’s a competitive environment, and successful candidates must have the nature to match – Portman actively looks for graduates who’ve played sport at a high level.
“Portman values individuals with a competitive mindset who are motivated by personal and professional growth, as well as those who possess a strong academic foundation and the ability to learn quickly,” the spokesperson says.
At household insurer Zurich, graduates can also start on £33,000. Its next intake opens in September, with graduate roles in business management, change and tech management, sustainable energy and data and analytics.
The requirements are a minimum 2:1 degree in any discipline, coupled with strong analytical skills and the ability to draw clear conclusions from data, and communicate to stakeholders. Other graduate roles in the accounting and actuarial fields require more relevant degrees.
“You’ll need to be a motivated team player, articulate and driven to succeed, with the opportunity to complete professional qualifications alongside your role, says Zurich UK talent acquisition manager Michelle Ransome.
Zurich UK talent acquisition manager Michelle Ransome. ‘You’ll need to be a motivated team player, articulate and driven to succeed’Trades and logistics
Nearly half (47 per cent) of trades and logistics companies will be giving graduates a go this year, the survey reveals.
Baxter Freight, for example, has recently announced 28 new graduate account manager positions. Graduate account managers typically move from “stage one” to “stage five” within four years. Stage one salaries start at £30,000 with an uncapped bonus, rising to £50,000 plus a company car at stage five, as a senior account partner.
They require a minimum 2:1 degree across any subject, HR director Lorraine Sutcliffe stresses that the hiring team are looking for individuals who are eager to learn, curious and resilient, and motivated by achieving targets.
“What makes logistics particularly rewarding is that there is always something new to learn. From customs requirements and international regulations to changing legislation, technology and sustainability, the industry is constantly evolving,” Sutcliffe says.
Tech and IT
More than half (52 per cent) of UK tech and IT firms are actively looking for graduates. While this of course includes discipline specific roles like software developers and engineers, sales is an often overlooked pathway into a high-demand, fast-growing sector.
Tech and IT are the most common employers Sarah Skelton works with at Flourish, the recruitment company she founded which specialises in hiring young people: 75 percent of the people Flourish finds jobs for are recent graduates, with degrees ranging from nursing, biomedical science, art, languages, humanities, business, economics and law.
Skelton says successful entry-level candidates can earn a basic salary of up to £35,000, with the opportunity to triple that within their first three years of working.
“What a graduate has to demonstrate is coachability and curiosity, and that they stuck at something for three or four years. It doesn’t matter what they studied or where – that is actually irrelevant – but they have to show that they’ve got an ability to learn and absorb information, which is what a business needs,” she says.
Public sector, health and social services
46 percent of public sector, health and social services organisations are also ready to take graduates, according to Manpower. That doesn’t have to mean a stuffy desk job – there are rewarding on-the-ground roles available for young people to carve a career in.
The police force, for example, recruits graduates from any degree field, as long as they achieve a 2:2 minimum. Police Now, the UK’s only graduate programme into policing, says it has hundreds of roles available across 37 police forces across England and Wales.
Applications for the 2027 programme are now open, with candidates able to apply for different streams: Neighbourhood, Detective and Economic Crime. Starting salaries range between £31,164 and £42,210, rising each year for seven years.
Police Now’s head of recruitment Katryna Smyth. ‘[Graduates need to work well with partners and be culturally and emotionally aware’Graduates can develop their skills and experience towards a career that’s either on the policing front line, or more leadership-based.
While previous experience isn’t necessary, Police Now’s head of recruitment, Katryna Smyth, is looking for people who are highly motivated and can take ownership of decisions.
“They need to work well with partners and be culturally and emotionally aware. Staying calm and resilient under pressure and being able to analyse critically are also important,” says Smyth.
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