Fewer jobs, higher hurdles: UK unemployment rise hits international students
With unemployment rising to 4.6% between February and April 2025, the highest since the pandemic-era summer of 2021, the picture for graduates seeking jobs has grown significantly dimmer.
Recent figures from the Office for National Statistics paint a sobering portrait: over 109,000 payroll positions vanished in May alone, the steepest drop in five years. Employers are growing cautious, shedding staff and halting recruitment as costs spiral.
The number of job vacancies has now fallen for the 35th consecutive quarter, slipping by 63,000 to just 736,000 openings nationwide.
For international students, who already navigate visa limits, sponsorship hurdles, and cultural adjustments, this downturn adds a new layer of complexity.
Shrinking window of opportunity
Each year, thousands of international students transition from study visas to the UK's Graduate Route, giving them up to two years to find work.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Esta nueva alarma con cámara es casi regalada en Cordoba (ver precio)
Verisure
Undo
But that window is closing faster in today's market. Fewer vacancies mean stiffer competition, and for many, the ultimate goal—a Skilled Worker visa—is becoming harder to reach. Companies are now more reluctant to take on new hires, especially those requiring visa sponsorship, amid growing financial pressures.
The latest ONS data highlights a significant shift that came in April, when employer National Insurance contributions jumped to 15% on salaries over £5,000, up from the previous 13.8% above £9,100.
At the same time, the government raised both the minimum wage and the national living wage, adding further strain to employers' bottom lines. As a result, even businesses with a history of hiring international graduates are now scaling back.
When ambition meets economics
For international students with high aspirations in finance, tech, or media, the labour market slump can feel like the rug being pulled out from under them. Even if jobs are available, slowing pay growth—down to 5.2% excluding bonuses (as shared by ONS), the weakest in seven months—means entry-level roles may no longer support rising rent and living expenses, especially in cities like London.
Others face the risk of underemployment, taking roles far below their qualifications just to stay afloat. For those counting on UK experience to launch global careers, this could mean a detour—or even a dead end.
Waiting for a turnaround
As inflation levels edge down to 3.4%
(ONS data, June 2025)
, there is hope that the Bank of England may offer relief through future interest rate cuts. But with global trade policies shifting and domestic uncertainty lingering, confidence among UK employers remains shaky.
In the meantime, international students are advised to diversify their job strategies—exploring sectors with higher hiring resilience, investing in upskilling, and engaging early with potential employers. Those still abroad and considering the UK for study might weigh their options more carefully in light of the current job market.
The UK has long been seen as a launchpad for global careers. But for international students in 2025, the climb is getting steeper—and it may take more than a degree to reach the summit.
Is your child ready for the careers of tomorrow? Enroll now and take advantage of our early bird offer! Spaces are limited.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
21 minutes ago
- Time of India
Balance yin and yang before Guru Purnima 2025: The July 7 two-watch ritual explained
The Rare 7-7-7 Energy Gateway and the Two-Watch Ritual for Guru Purnima 2025 The 7th day of the 7th month in a year ending in 7 forms a rare 7-7-7 energy gateway. In spiritual numerology, this alignment opens the path for emotional reset and inner recalibration. Falling just three days before Guru Purnima (July 10, 2025)—the full moon of wisdom and reverence, this powerful date acts as a threshold, clearing emotional baggage to make space for higher understanding. A Sacred Habit: Wearing Two Timepieces Wearing two timepieces, one on each wrist, on this day is more than a style statement; it's a live yantra, a symbolic action that balances yin and yang, intuition and execution. This alignment harmonizes the energy field, preparing the practitioner to receive Guru Purnima's blessings fully and consciously. 🌕 The Spiritual Significance of the Full Moon (Guru Purnima 2025) The full moon amplifies everything. Known in my practice as the 'mirror moon,' Guru Purnima draws unresolved patterns, karmic loops, and intuitive revelations into the light. Emotions rise, subconscious themes surface, and spiritual clarity sharpens. This is not a time to be passive. It's a time to observe, listen, and respond with disciplined energetic rituals that stabilize the auric field. Wearing two timepieces becomes a somatic yantra, a tangible form of sacred balance. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo It integrates both receptive and assertive energies, preventing the inner disarray that often occurs when lunar forces run high. ⚖️ Understanding Wrist Energy: Left and Right Channels In Vedic philosophy and many spiritual healing systems, the left and right sides of the body represent different energetic functions: Left Wrist: Governed by the ida nadi , linked to the moon, intuition, emotion, and feminine (yin) energy. Right Wrist: Connected to the pingala nadi , associated with the sun, action, will, and masculine (yang) energy. When one channel dominates, it can lead to emotional overwhelm or detached over-functioning. The two-watch practice keeps both channels activated and balanced, especially crucial on the night before Guru Purnima, when the soul prepares to receive inner teachings and divine downloads. 🌙 Left Wrist: Receiving the Moon's Wisdom Wearing a watch on the left wrist during the full moon helps stabilize the lunar influx. Choose an analog watch in soft tones like silver, rose gold, cream, or crafted from natural materials such as leather or cotton. Before wearing it, set an intention like: ✨ 'I receive truth. I allow clarity. I honor my emotions.' This step isn't symbolic—it's essential. Timepieces carry energetic memory because they track cycles. Your intention imprints the object with spiritual purpose. ☀️ Right Wrist: Anchoring Solar Action The right wrist grounds the masculine energy—your power to respond and act. Here, a metal or digital watch works best to represent structure, logic, and output. Before wearing, infuse it with an affirmation such as: ✨ 'I act with clarity. I manage my energy. I move with intention.' This isn't about hustle—it's about aligned action and energetic leadership during heightened emotional states. 🕰️ Wearing Two Watches: A Ritual of Sacred Integration Wearing a watch on each wrist is a deliberate ritual of integration. One wrist holds depth and emotional receptivity; the other channels willpower and transformation. Together, they create a powerful energetic loop—balancing the opposites within. This ritual is especially potent in the 24–48 hours before the full moon. Emotions may surge. Old memories may surface. You may feel torn between inaction and urgency. Wearing both timepieces allows you to honor both forces, silently affirming: ✨ 'I am whole. I do not have to choose between softness and strength.' That is the deeper meaning of Guru Purnima: not just honoring external teachers, but also recognizing the guide within—the one who knows when to feel and when to move. 🕊️ How to Practice the Two-Watch Ritual on July 7 Begin your ritual on the morning of July 7. Find a quiet space to sit with your two chosen watches. One should feel soft, the other bold. Hold each watch in your hands. Close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths. Speak a clear intention into each watch. For the left wrist, choose words around intuition, emotional clarity, or openness . For the right wrist, choose affirmations of decision, purpose, or expression . Wear both watches all day and night. As you move through your day, notice which wrist you're more aware of. If the left pulses, it may be a sign to pause and feel . If the right dominates, it might be time to act or speak . Let this become a moving meditation, a practice of embodied balance. Final Thought July 7, 2025, isn't just a date—it's an energetic opportunity. It's a rare portal to rewire the emotional body and prepare the soul for Guru Purnima's sacred teachings. Through small, intentional acts—like wearing two watches—you align with cosmic rhythms, balance your inner world, and prepare to receive with an open heart and a focused mind. Discover everything about astrology at the Times of India , including daily horoscopes for Aries , Taurus , Gemini , Cancer , Leo , Virgo , Libra , Scorpio , Sagittarius , Capricorn , Aquarius , and Pisces .
Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Time of India
Building the next generation of tech professionals: Traditional interviews out, companies gamify aptitude assessment
HYDERABAD: Excelling in group discussions or answering tough technical questions alone might not land you a job after graduation. Many companies are now opting for gamified aptitude assessments, virtual interviews and online exam to better gauge capabilities. Over 60% institutes reported that entry-level tests were significantly redesigned in the past two years, reflecting the shift toward more skillbased evaluation, according to a NASSCOM report, 'Building the Next Generation of Tech Professionals'. Employers are increasingly looking at coding proficiency, logical reasoning and real-world situations involving Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning while hiring candidates. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad ' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Many top companies have stopped coming for placement drives. Now, it's all about students' capabilities and online profiles. For any coding job, companies see coding profiles on sites such as LeetCode and CodeChef to assess students' skills by seeing their ratings. They are also conducting coding competitions,' said NLN Reddy, director, career development cell, Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology. He said companies are also looking at global certifications in emerging tech courses to assess candidates' interest in their chosen field. Companies are even hiring through own portals or third-party services, offering live evaluation to prevent manipulation by candidates. Even the NASSCOM report highlighted how companies are using platforms such as HackerRank, HackerEarth, CodeSignal, Codility, Phenom and HireVue to screen candidates across a range of skills in a virtual set-up with AI-driven evaluation support. He said that unlike the earlier practice of screening tests for all final year students, companies are now showing interest in only those with good profiles – internships, projects, and certifications. 'Most companies either have hackathons or coding rounds. Some even have both,' said C Vinod Kumar from Forum for IT Employees.
Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Time of India
Ferrari seized in Bengaluru over unpaid road tax; owner pays Rs 1.41 crore after RTO crackdown
A dazzling red Ferrari SF90 Stradale , one of the most coveted supercars on Bengaluru's streets, was recently seized by transport authorities for unpaid road tax. The luxury vehicle, originally registered in Maharashtra, had been turning heads across the city but failed to comply with Karnataka's strict road tax regulations. This high-profile incident not only spotlights the growing presence of exotic cars in Bengaluru but also underscores the city's crackdown on tax evasion among luxury vehicle owners. The case serves as a reminder of the legal and financial consequences of neglecting local vehicle registration and tax requirements. Ferrari owner pays Rs 1.41 crore after seizure amid Karnataka Road tax crackdown The Ferrari was registered in Maharashtra, a state where road taxes for luxury vehicles are considerably lower than in Karnataka. Despite being a regular presence in Bengaluru, the car's owner had not re-registered the vehicle locally or paid the required Karnataka Road tax. Faced with the seizure and official notice, the owner promptly paid over Rs 1.41 crore to cover the pending road tax and penalties. This payment is among the highest for a single-vehicle tax recovery in recent years, highlighting the significant financial risks of non-compliance. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo This incident is part of a larger enforcement drive initiated by the transport department. Authorities have been actively monitoring and seizing luxury vehicles that use out-of-state registrations to avoid paying Karnataka's higher road taxes. These efforts are particularly focused on gatherings where such vehicles are likely to be present. How was Ferrari tracked and seized in Maharashtra Transport department officials had been monitoring high-end vehicles with out-of-state registrations, especially during weekend gatherings of luxury car owners. Acting on a tip-off, they located the Ferrari and verified its registration and tax status. Upon confirmation that the Karnataka Road tax had not been paid, the authorities seized the car. A formal notice was issued to the owner, instructing them to pay the outstanding tax and penalties by a specified deadline, with a warning of further legal action if they failed to comply. Karnataka road tax laws mandate re-registration for vehicles used over a year Earlier in the year, several other luxury vehicles were seized for similar violations. The authorities' proactive approach has led to the identification and penalization of multiple tax evaders, serving as a warning to other vehicle owners. Any vehicle that is used regularly in Karnataka for more than a year must be re-registered locally. The owner must pay the applicable road tax, which is calculated based on the vehicle's cost, engine capacity, and age. Failure to comply with these rules can lead to vehicle seizure, hefty fines, and potential legal action. The authorities have made it clear that attempts to evade local taxes by maintaining out-of-state registrations will not be tolerated. According to Karnataka's Motor Vehicle laws, any vehicle that is used regularly in the state must be re-registered and the applicable road tax must be paid. This rule applies regardless of where the vehicle was originally registered. The intent is to ensure that vehicles using local infrastructure contribute fairly to its upkeep. Regular use requires local registration: Using a vehicle registered in another state for more than a year in Karnataka requires re-registration and payment of local road tax. Financial risks of non-compliance: Avoiding local tax can lead to significant penalties and seizure of the vehicle. Active enforcement: Authorities are vigilant, especially with luxury and high-value vehicles, and are conducting regular checks to ensure compliance. Discover everything about the automotive world at Times of India .
