TL;DR UK graduate vacancies are down 32% in two years. Not because companies need fewer graduates, but because the work graduates used to do is now done by LLMs. At the same time, a quiet new category is emerging: junior roles created specifically to catch AI errors in production. These aren't advertised as junior, and graduates rarely know to apply. This post covers what actually works in 2026, the hidden job categories, and the three timing/targeting moves most grads miss. I've been building CVPilot , an AI CV optimisation tool for UK job seekers, and the pattern in the graduate market right now is more nuanced than the headlines suggest. The Institute of Student Employers' 2025 UK Graduate Survey: Graduate vacancies down 32% vs 2023 Average successful graduate submits 94 applications per role 54% of large UK employers have cut at least one graduate programme since 2023 32% have introduced AI-only screening Meanwhile, a parallel story.…