What career paths are students and graduates most interested in exploring and understanding? And how are their preferences changing over time? The popularity of Prospects job profiles can give us an insight…
Prospects.ac.uk is the leading website for student and graduate careers advice and hosts more than 500 job profiles. Analysing data on which of these profiles attract the highest number of users provides some indication of which roles are drawing the attention of this key audience of current and future jobseekers.
Are students and graduates most interested in high paid jobs or those that give them lots of responsibility? Roles in fields with high demand and a shortage of talent, or sectors that give them the opportunity to make a difference in society? Here are the top ten most popular job profiles on Prospects by page views between January and April 2026.
1. Data analyst
Data analyst has continued to draw high levels of interest, rising by two places to the top spot in this year's ranking of the most popular job profiles on Prospects.ac.uk. Data analysis skills are in demand across many sectors, including finance, retail, healthcare and the public sector, which helps to sustain interest in the role.
According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, roles linked to data and analytics are expected to be among the fastest-growing occupations globally between now and 2030, with big data and data analysis skills central to this growth.1
Analysis of job postings using Adzuna data suggests that demand for data professionals remains high, as organisations increasingly recognise the importance of data in driving business strategy and decision making.2
Solicitor enters the top ten most viewed job profiles this year, having not featured in the ranking last year.
2. Clinical psychologist
Clinical psychologist remains one of the most viewed job profiles this year, ranking second overall, having previously held the top position. Despite the length and competitiveness of the training pathway, the role continues to attract high levels of interest, particularly among those seeking people‑focused careers.
The UK has faced a shortage of clinical psychologists for several years. To address this, the NHS has set out plans to expand the workforce, including a 26% increase in training places for clinical psychology and child and adolescent psychotherapy by 2031.3
However, research by the Nuffield Trust highlights persistent challenges within the training and progression pipeline. While many psychology undergraduates initially reported an intention to pursue a career in mental health, the proportion of students not considering careers in psychology or mental health in their final year more than doubled, rising from 9% to 21%.4 This may reflect a growing awareness of limited training places and competitive progression routes.
3. Solicitor
Solicitor enters the top ten most viewed job profiles this year, having not featured in the ranking last year. Careers in law are commonly associated with competitive pay, clear progression routes and strong development of transferable skills.5 The opportunity to pursue work that can make a difference to people's lives is also likely to appeal to graduates.
According to the Law Society's latest annual statistics report, there were 197,378 solicitors on the roll in England and Wales as of July 2023, a 9% decrease on the previous year, reflecting changes to how non‑practising solicitors are required to maintain their registration.6
Despite this fall, continued entry into the profession is expected, with more than 30,000 new solicitors forecast to be admitted between 2024 and 2027.7
4. Educational psychologist
Educational psychologist continues to rank highly among the most viewed job profiles this year, reflecting sustained interest in careers that support children and young people.
Recent research commissioned by the British Psychological Society highlights a chronic national shortage of educational psychologists, alongside significant variation in provision across local authorities.8 The research estimates that councils in England would need to recruit around 1,400 additional educational psychologists to meet the needs of children with special educational needs. There are calls for an increase in training places and local authority posts to meet the rising need for independent assessments and intervention work, suggesting that demand for educational psychologists is likely to remain strong.
5. Forensic psychologist
Forensic psychologist remains in fifth place this year. The nature of the jobs market is highly competitive due to it being a small, specialised field. The largest employer of forensic psychologists in the UK is His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), although many also work for the NHS and social services.9
Notably, marketing executive has entered the top 10 this year, reflecting employer demand for skills linked to digital strategy, brand management and customer engagement. This suggests that students and graduates are showing greater interest in roles where communication and commercial insight are important.
This is clearly not a scientific process - for example, users might view a job profile to rule out that particular career choice, rather than because they want to pursue it. However, it does provide an indication of the roles that are on the minds of students and graduates, those that attract their attention, and the job sectors that they feel are worthy of further exploration.
Notes
- The Future of Jobs Report 2025, World Economic Forum, 2025.
- Data job market insights report: Trends and statistics for the UK data sector [January 26], Learning People, 2026.
- NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, NHS, 2023.
- The right track: Participation and progression in psychology career paths, Nuffield Trust, 2021.
- Four reasons why a career in law is leading the way, The University of Law, 2022.
- Annual statistics report 2023, The Law Society, 2025.
- Annual statistics report 2023, The Law Society, 2025.
- Chronic shortage of Educational Psychologists must be urgently addressed, as new BPS-commissioned research reveals record provision gaps, The British Psychological Society, 2026.
- Forensic psychologist, NHS.
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