{"id":12812,"date":"2026-04-22T06:30:37","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T20:30:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hiringlab.org\/au\/?p=12812"},"modified":"2026-04-22T06:30:37","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T20:30:37","slug":"nice-try-ai-australian-graduates-are-still-getting-hired","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hiringlab.org\/au\/blog\/2026\/04\/22\/nice-try-ai-australian-graduates-are-still-getting-hired\/","title":{"rendered":"Nice Try, AI: Australian Graduates Are Still Getting Hired"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Key points:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Graduate job opportunities fell almost 15% last year, but there are signs of a modest rebound in early 2026.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>While graduate opportunities in jobs highly exposed to AI have declined more than average, the timing suggests that AI adoption is not the primary driver.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Job seeker searches for graduate jobs remain low, suggesting that graduates still find it relatively easy to find work.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Australian employer demand for graduates eased last year \u2013 the third consecutive annual decline \u2013 but has rebounded modestly in early 2026. Hiring in occupations highly exposed to artificial intelligence fell more sharply than in other occupations, though the timing is too early for AI to be the primary culprit. Indeed\u2019s data also shows no signs that job seekers are finding it more difficult to find graduate work, with job seeker activity unchanged in recent years.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Graduate recruitment often differs from conventional hiring. The hiring process often begins 6-12 months before candidates start, meaning changes in graduate demand today may reflect employers&#8217; expectations for Australia\u2019s economy.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For university students, the final year of study is often a tricky balancing act between studying and job hunting. Some secure a job early \u2013 waiting out the academic year until their new career begins \u2013 while others scramble to find suitable work towards the end of the year. Competition is often intense, with employers vying for top talent and graduates pursuing the most lucrative or prestigious opportunities.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For employers, graduate recruitment is an investment in your business&#8217;s future, snagging top-level talent that may take time to develop, but could become the leaders of tomorrow. Recently, however, that dynamic has shifted, with growing speculation that artificial intelligence can replace entry-level workers, even those with skills that would normally be in high demand.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Graduate demand steady in early 2026, following decline last year<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2025, graduate job postings fell almost 15% compared to a year earlier, with opportunities down 35% from their peak in 2023. While graduate demand has cooled from its post-pandemic high, recent graduates need not despair.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Last year, there were still 1.5 times as many graduate job postings as in 2019, and early signs suggest that graduate demand has stabilised in 2026. In the March quarter, graduate postings rose 6.4% compared with a year earlier, suggesting that graduate demand should again exceed pre-pandemic levels.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"559\" src=\"https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22060815\/1.-Australian-graduate-job-postings-1-1024x559.png\" alt=\"Bar chart showing Australian graduate job postings from 2019 to 2026, indexed to a 2019 average of 1. Postings dipped to 0.7 in 2020, rose to a peak of 2.3 in 2023, then fell back to 1.5 in 2025. The January\u2013March average for 2026 was 1.6, slightly above the 2025 full-year figure. Source: Indeed.\n\" class=\"wp-image-12819\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22060815\/1.-Australian-graduate-job-postings-1-1024x559.png 1024w, https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22060815\/1.-Australian-graduate-job-postings-1-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22060815\/1.-Australian-graduate-job-postings-1-768x419.png 768w, https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22060815\/1.-Australian-graduate-job-postings-1-1536x838.png 1536w, https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22060815\/1.-Australian-graduate-job-postings-1.png 1650w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Bar graph titled \u201cAustralian graduate job postings\u201d shows that graduate-related job postings were 14.7% lower in 2025 than in the year before. In the March quarter 2026, graduate opportunities are tracking similarly to the same period last year.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A key risk to that assessment is ongoing geopolitical tension, particularly conflict in the Middle East. An economic slowdown, both in Australia and globally, risks spooking employers and reducing hiring activity. It\u2019s too early to see any impact in Indeed\u2019s data, but the longer the conflict persists, the greater the risk of a slowdown.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Historically, younger workers and entry-level roles are more exposed to cyclical swings in economic conditions. These groups tend to have less experience and be less productive than other workers, making them an easy target for businesses looking to cut costs or reduce headcount. Graduating into a recession or downturn can also <a href=\"https:\/\/treasury.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/2020-06\/p2020-85098-202006.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">lead to persistently weaker labour market outcomes<\/a> than for those who graduate into an economic boom.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Graduate hiring has slowed considerably in Victoria<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Graduate hiring trends are broadly similar across the country, except in Victoria. In 2025, graduate job postings in Victoria were 23% below their 2019 baseline, making it the only state to dip below that level. This likely reflects reduced graduate hiring among government departments and organisations in response to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2025-11-24\/victoria-auditor-general-financial-report\/106045146\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ongoing fiscal spending issues<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By comparison, in New South Wales, graduate postings are still 37% above pre-pandemic levels, with Queensland and South Australia up 70% and 84%, respectively. And in the case of Western Australia and Queensland, there were more opportunities last year than the year before.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In early 2026, graduate demand appears to have increased across every state, including Victoria. However, Victorian postings continue to track well below pre-pandemic levels.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"545\" src=\"https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22061122\/2.-Australian-graduate-job-postings-by-state-1024x545.png\" alt=\"Line chart showing Australian graduate job postings by state (NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, WA) from 2019 to 2025, indexed to a 2019 average of 1. All states dipped in 2020, then surged to peaks in 2022\u20132023. South Australia reached the highest peak at around 2.4, while Victoria was the weakest performer, falling below the 2019 baseline by 2025. Source: Indeed.\" class=\"wp-image-12820\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22061122\/2.-Australian-graduate-job-postings-by-state-1024x545.png 1024w, https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22061122\/2.-Australian-graduate-job-postings-by-state-300x160.png 300w, https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22061122\/2.-Australian-graduate-job-postings-by-state-768x409.png 768w, https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22061122\/2.-Australian-graduate-job-postings-by-state-1536x818.png 1536w, https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22061122\/2.-Australian-graduate-job-postings-by-state.png 1690w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Line graph titled \u201cAustralian graduate jobs postings by state\u201d shows that Victorian job postings are 23% below their 2019 baseline, well below other states. Postings in New South Wales are 37% above 2019 levels, with Queensland and South Australia up 70% and 84%, respectively.\u00a0<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Graduate recruitment dominated by engineering<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2025, graduate roles accounted for 8.8% of all civil engineering job postings, ahead of project management (6.1%), mechanical engineering (5.1%) and electrical engineering (5.0%). Other sectors with notable graduate hiring included therapy, human resources, architecture and scientific research.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Graduate hiring intensity \u2013 the share of occupation job postings that are graduate roles \u2013 increased in a third of occupations last year, compared to the year before. In 2025, 3.5% of job postings in human resources were graduate opportunities, up around 2.7 percentage points from 0.8% a year earlier. Employers seeking civil engineering talent also increased hiring, with their graduate postings share rising 1.8 percentage points.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That was offset by reduced hiring intensity in project management and electrical engineering, down 2.3 percentage points and 1.2 percentage points, respectively.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, not all graduate recruitment occurs online. In-person placements are a common pathway for some occupations, particularly in healthcare, which weighs on those occupations\u2019 graduate posting shares.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Graduate job postings also feature a mix of large-scale graduate programmes \u2013 where a single job posting may reflect dozens of jobs \u2013 and more tailored, role-specific opportunities. The approach used may influence how highly an occupation ranks compared to other jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"470\" src=\"https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22061328\/3.-Australian-graduate-jobs-by-occupation-category-1024x470.png\" alt=\"Table showing Australian graduate jobs by occupation category in 2025. Civil engineering had the largest share at 8.8% with the strongest annual growth (+1.8 percentage points), followed by project management at 6.1% (down 2.3 points) and mechanical engineering at 5.1%. Human resources saw the largest share increase at +2.7 points despite a relatively small overall share of 3.5%. Source: Indeed.\" class=\"wp-image-12821\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22061328\/3.-Australian-graduate-jobs-by-occupation-category-1024x470.png 1024w, https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22061328\/3.-Australian-graduate-jobs-by-occupation-category-300x138.png 300w, https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22061328\/3.-Australian-graduate-jobs-by-occupation-category-768x353.png 768w, https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22061328\/3.-Australian-graduate-jobs-by-occupation-category.png 1137w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Table titled \u201cAustralian graduate jobs by occupational category\u201d shows that 8.8% of civil engineering job postings in 2025 were graduate opportunities, ahead of project management (6.1%) and mechanical engineering (5.1%).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Graduate hiring patterns are slowly returning to normal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In response to strong economic conditions and widespread skill shortages, employers adjusted their graduate recruitment approach in 2022 and 2023. Many roles during that period became evergreen, remaining open year-round rather than targeting specific months, such as March or April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From 2019 to 2021, graduate postings peaked 91% higher as a share of total job postings than their annual average. That number dropped to an average of 33% in 2022 and 2023 as hiring was spread out more evenly across the year.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over the past two years, there have been signs that hiring patterns are gradually reverting, with graduate postings peaking 55% above their annual average. While still below historical norms, this indicates that the hiring frenzy of a few years ago is well and truly over.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"559\" src=\"https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22061759\/4.-Australian-graduate-hiring-trends-1024x559.png\" alt=\"Bar chart showing the percentage difference between peak and average Australian graduate job posting share from 2019 to 2025, grouped into three hiring trend phases. The &quot;normal hiring&quot; phase (2019\u20132021) showed the largest peak-to-average gaps of 79\u2013103%. During the &quot;job boom&quot; phase (2022\u20132023) the gap narrowed sharply to 30\u201336%, and in the &quot;normalising&quot; phase (2024\u20132025) it recovered to 53\u201356%. Source: Indeed.\" class=\"wp-image-12822\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22061759\/4.-Australian-graduate-hiring-trends-1024x559.png 1024w, https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22061759\/4.-Australian-graduate-hiring-trends-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22061759\/4.-Australian-graduate-hiring-trends-768x419.png 768w, https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22061759\/4.-Australian-graduate-hiring-trends-1536x839.png 1536w, https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22061759\/4.-Australian-graduate-hiring-trends.png 1650w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Bar graph titled \u201cAustralian graduate hiring trends\u201d shows that graduate postings peaked around 55% above their annual average in 2024 and 2025, compared to just 33% higher during 2022 and 2023.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Has artificial intelligence affected graduate recruitment?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There is growing speculation that artificial intelligence has limited entry-level or graduate opportunities, based on the thinking that these tools can often do a somewhat adequate job at the many routine tasks that are the bread-and-butter of entry-level workers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Australia, the composition of graduate hiring has certainly changed in recent years; however, the evidence isn\u2019t strong that artificial intelligence is to blame.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2025, around 36% of graduate job postings were in occupations with high exposure to AI, as defined by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hiringlab.org\/2025\/09\/23\/ai-at-work-report-2025-how-genai-is-rewiring-the-dna-of-jobs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Indeed\u2019s 2025 AI at Work report<\/a>. That\u2019s down from around 40% in both 2023 and 2024. Overall, the volume of graduate job opportunities in high-exposure occupations last year was almost 30% below 2019 levels, having halved since their peak in 2022.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At first glance, it would be easy to blame artificial intelligence for these trends. However, the drop-off in graduate postings for high-exposure occupations began in 2023, prior to the widespread adoption of AI tools. Company AI implementation back then was limited \u2013 surely inadequate to replace entire tasks, let alone workers \u2013 and therefore unlikely to affect recruitment trends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At best, you can point to trends from 2025 to suggest that there was perhaps a minor impact as AI adoption increased. However, that\u2019s complicated by graduate postings in highly exposed occupations rising in early 2026, compared to a year earlier. Based on the recent relationship between March-quarter graduate postings and annual postings, this suggests healthy demand this year.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"558\" src=\"https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22062018\/5.-Australian-graduate-job-postings-and-AI-impact-1024x558.png\" alt=\"Dual panel line chart showing Australian graduate job postings by AI exposure level (low, medium, high) from 2019 to 2026. The left panel shows share of graduate postings: high-exposure roles dominated at around 35\u201360% share but declined recently, while medium-exposure roles grew to nearly 58% by 2026. The right panel shows posting volumes indexed to 2019: low-exposure roles peaked highest in 2023 before falling sharply, while high-exposure roles declined to near 2019 levels by 2026. Source: Indeed.\" class=\"wp-image-12823\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22062018\/5.-Australian-graduate-job-postings-and-AI-impact-1024x558.png 1024w, https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22062018\/5.-Australian-graduate-job-postings-and-AI-impact-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22062018\/5.-Australian-graduate-job-postings-and-AI-impact-768x419.png 768w, https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22062018\/5.-Australian-graduate-job-postings-and-AI-impact-1536x838.png 1536w, https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22062018\/5.-Australian-graduate-job-postings-and-AI-impact.png 1652w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Two-panel line graph titled \u201cAustralian graduate job postings and AI impact.\u201d The first panel shows that 36% of graduate postings are in occupations that are highly exposed to AI, down from 40% in 2023 and 2024. The second panel shows that in 2025, postings in highly exposed occupations are almost 30% below 2019 levels.\u00a0<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>By comparison, medium exposure occupations account for a growing share of graduate opportunities, reaching 56% in 2025. Many of the occupations in this group, which includes engineering, are expected to undergo considerable AI-driven transformation, even if not to the same degree as highly exposed occupations. Strong graduate demand in these occupations reinforces the view that AI has not significantly reduced graduate hiring.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Graduate postings in low-exposure occupations are relatively uncommon (7.1% of graduate postings in 2025). Within these occupations, apprenticeships or direct placements are often favoured over graduate programmes, particularly for tradies or medical professions.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Notably, apprenticeship opportunities \u2013 typically jobs with limited exposure to AI \u2013 have also declined considerably, down 46% in 2025 compared to their 2023 peak. This suggests that broader economic factors, such as a somewhat sluggish economy or even a hangover from post-pandemic over-hiring, are driving trends rather than artificial intelligence.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>No signs that recent graduates are struggling to find work<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Another indication that graduate demand remains healthy is that job seekers\u2019 search activity remains low. It\u2019s a sign that friction in the graduate job market remains relatively low. Graduates continue to find jobs quickly, requiring fewer job searches than was the case in the years before the post-pandemic job boom.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A candidate who lands a graduate job in April will search less than a job seeker who doesn\u2019t find success until September. In recent years, more graduates have experienced the former, while fewer have been left frustrated by a long, protracted job search. Last year was no exception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2025, just 0.4% of Australian job seeker searches were for graduate roles, unchanged from both 2023 and 2024 but down from 0.6% in 2022 and 0.8% in 2021. So far, recent trends are holding in early 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the economy does slow considerably this year, impacting business confidence and hiring, we\u2019d expect to see job seeker activity pick up as the recruitment process becomes more frustrating and job seekers become more desperate. So far, that hasn\u2019t been the case.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"559\" src=\"https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22062215\/6.-Australian-searches-for-graduate-jobs-1024x559.png\" alt=\"Line chart showing Australian searches for graduate jobs as a share of total Australian job searches (7-day moving average, %) from 2019 to early 2026. The share fluctuated between 0.6% and 0.9% through 2021, peaked near 0.9% in early 2022, then fell sharply and has since stabilised at around 0.4% through 2023\u20132026. Source: Indeed.\" class=\"wp-image-12824\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22062215\/6.-Australian-searches-for-graduate-jobs-1024x559.png 1024w, https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22062215\/6.-Australian-searches-for-graduate-jobs-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22062215\/6.-Australian-searches-for-graduate-jobs-768x419.png 768w, https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22062215\/6.-Australian-searches-for-graduate-jobs-1536x838.png 1536w, https:\/\/d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net\/hiringlaborg\/sites\/6\/2026\/04\/22062215\/6.-Australian-searches-for-graduate-jobs.png 1650w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Line graph titled \u201cAustralian searches for graduate jobs\u201d shows that graduate searches, as a share of total Australian searches, have consistently been around 0.4% over the past few years.\u00a0<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Australia\u2019s post-pandemic job boom has benefited recent university graduates. For the past few years, it\u2019s been an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.qilt.edu.au\/docs\/default-source\/default-document-library\/2024-gos-national-report.pdf?sfvrsn=9f40f76_2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ideal time to enter the workforce and begin your career<\/a>. While the hiring frenzy from 2022 and 2023 is over, graduate demand remained healthy last year and is tracking a little stronger in early 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Artificial intelligence may be beginning to influence graduate hiring trends, but any impact appears modest. There is also no evidence that job seekers are collectively finding it more difficult to land a job. Job seeker searches for graduate jobs have remained low through early 2026, consistent with trends over the past few years.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Looking ahead, graduates face some challenging headwinds over the remainder of the year. Ongoing geopolitical and economic uncertainty, including higher inflation and rising interest rates, may leave some employers reluctant to expand headcount. Graduate recruitment requires long-term planning, and that\u2019s difficult to do in the current economic environment.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Given this, we anticipate graduate demand may soften over the course of 2026 \u2013 consistent with slower economic growth, despite a strong start to the year.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Methodology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>To identify graduate job postings, we filter job posting titles for the word \u2018graduate.\u2019 This identifies Australian employer graduate programmes and opportunities that primarily go to students completing their final year of university study.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Graduate-based job searches reflect job searches that mention \u2018graduate.\u2019 This includes terms such as \u2018graduate\u2019 or \u2018graduate programme.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Australia\u2019s graduate job market stabilised in early 2026 \u2013 with postings well above pre-pandemic levels \u2013 after softening over the previous two years. So far, there is only tentative evidence that artificial intelligence is influencing graduate hiring trends, but nothing conclusive. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":103,"featured_media":12825,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"recruiter-hub-blocks.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[139],"post_mwm_category":[],"post_topic":[],"post_content_type":[],"post_duration":[],"post_actions":[],"post_franchise":[],"post_mwm_author":[182],"class_list":["post-12812","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-spotlight","post_mwm_author-cpickering"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Nice Try, AI: Australian Graduates Are Still Getting Hired - Indeed Hiring Lab Australia<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" 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