If you’re a student or recent graduate, you’ve probably heard the doom-and-gloom stories - AI is coming for jobs, especially entry-level ones. And it’s true that the UK graduate recruitment market has taken a hit. By February this year, the proportion of firms hiring graduates dropped from 33% two years ago to 27%, with many entry-level roles in HR, marketing, and accounting scaled back or removed altogether. A Stanford study even likened entry-level workers to the “canaries in a coal mine” of automation as they’re the first to feel the impact of AI on the workforce.
So yes, the challenge is real. But here’s the good news...the skills that make you human, the ones AI can’t replicate, are now more valuable than ever.
What AI can do…and what it can’t
AI is great at repetitive, rules-based tasks like data entry, basic reporting, even drafting generic marketing copy. That’s why many businesses have looked at automation to cut costs. But employers are equally clear about what AI can’t do. It doesn’t have empathy. It doesn’t spark original creativity. It doesn’t build trust with clients or adapt to the unpredictable. Those are the uniquely human qualities that graduates can bring to the table. In fact, a study from Cornell University suggests that demand for soft skills such as teamwork, creativity, and ethical decision-making is increasing faster than overall job disruption from AI.
Where the jobs still are
If you’re worried about choosing a career that AI won’t swallow whole, here are some sectors still crying out for human talent:
- Healthcare – Nurses, therapists, support workers. Because empathy, adaptability, and compassion are irreplaceable.
- Education & social sciences – Teachers, mentors, counsellors. These are roles built on relationships and human connection.
- Creative & design industries – Writers, designers, planners, event organisers. AI can assist these jobs, but originality is human.
- Skilled trades & services – Electricians, chefs, hairdressers. Practical skills demand dexterity and judgement.
- Human-centred leadership – Ethics and emotional intelligence are essential to leading the workforce. Employers are seeking human skills which help teams navigate the changing world of AI.
How to stand out as a graduate in 2025
1. Become AI-literate (but not robotic)
Show you can use AI tools alongside your skills. Employers want staff who are comfortable using technology to enhance productivity, not replace themselves.
2. Double-down on your soft skills
Work on communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. When you go for interviews, highlight real-life stories of when you’ve made an impact - don’t just list skills.
3. Target AI-resistant sectors
Look at industries rooted in people and service. Healthcare, social care, education, and hospitality are great examples where humanity is the job.
4. Tell your personal story
On CVs and in interviews, focus less on ‘tasks’ and more on the difference you made. Did you improve a system? Support a colleague? Delight a customer? That’s what sets you apart from a machine.
5. Consider SMEs as well as big names
Large corporates may automate more quickly. Small and medium businesses often value flexibility, personality, and hands-on contribution - things AI can’t do.
6. Keep learning
Short courses, certifications, and voluntary projects can help you build skills outside your degree and make you more competitive.
Final thoughts
Yes, AI is changing the graduate labour market. Some roles are disappearing, and competition is fierce. But it also means employers now place more value on the very things that make us human.
So instead of seeing AI as the end of opportunities, think of it as a challenge to stand out by being yourself - empathetic, creative, adaptable, and forward-thinking. That’s something no machine can replicate.
👉 Looking for real-world experience while you study?
At ARU Temps, we connect students and graduates with paid opportunities in roles across various industries within ARU departments and with off campus employers. Our goal isn’t just to place you in a job, but to help you grow the human skills that make you employable for life.
Useful links:
Financial Times article - It's been a terrible year to graduate and find a job
Economic Times article - Stanford study
Study - Cornell University
Handshake - Search for jobs, book a careers appointment, access online resources