AI May Be Hurting UK Computer Science Graduates’ Job Prospects, Data Shows

Summary

Data collected for the 2027 Guardian University Guide suggests that the UK job prospects of computer science and economics graduates changed significantly in 2025. Coding and software development were the fastest-falling occupations for graduates, and demand also declined for economics-related roles in finance. The share of computer science graduates entering professional coding or programming jobs fell from about 40% in earlier years to 28%, while the share entering any graduate-level occupation dropped from above 60% two years earlier to 50%. The figures come from a Higher Education Statistics Agency survey of more than 350,000 former students, conducted 15 months after they completed courses in 2024. Experts said the pattern is consistent with employers using AI agents to produce software and analysis more quickly, but they cautioned that the available evidence does not establish AI as the cause. Computer science graduates appear to be moving toward related areas such as cybersecurity and network engineering, while some finance employers say AI is changing jobs rather than eliminating them and increasingly expect new hires to understand AI tools. Other employers are cutting staff while experimenting with the technology, showing that the response remains unsettled. The report also highlights universities’ efforts to prepare students, including Birmingham’s option for undergraduates to add an intercalated year in subjects such as AI and data science.