As the landscape of higher education evolves, new research from AGCAS highlights the transformative trends shaping careers and employability services in 2025, writes Claire Toogood
In a recent survey of 112 higher education careers leaders, AGCAS found five key areas of anticipated growth in careers and employability services and activities. These priorities included a strong focus on AI and technology for employability and careers work, specifically the need for high quality guidance on AI in recruitment for students and graduates, the delivery of digital self-service information and resources related to careers and employability, and the provision of AI tools for students and graduates. The other two growth areas related to the continued and developing requirement for embedded employability activities in the curriculum and increasing demand for work-based learning and placements.
Resource and financial challenges
Respondents also reported significant challenges, including resourcing difficulties and high workloads. Both staff to student ratios and student demand continue to increase, meaning careers and employability staff are frequently delivering more services within their institution despite very limited resources and budgets. In difficult financial times for the higher education sector, there was also a focus on external funding and income generation, with some services securing increased external funding.
The increasing role of careers and employability services in ongoing graduate support must not be overlooked.
A lifetime offer
The survey also found that lifetime support for graduates is now commonly offered. In 2024/25, 41% of institutions offered lifetime careers support, up from 36% in 2023/24. Only 6% now offer less than two years of graduate support. The increasing role of careers and employability services in ongoing graduate support must not be overlooked, both in terms of demand for this service, but also in its potential to support ongoing graduate connections with their former institutions. This is a clear example of the 'unwavering commitment to the vital role of careers and employability' which was commended by AGCAS CEO, Martin Edmondson, in the report foreword.
Student workers: the service perspective
AGCAS also explored the role and scope of the work of student workers in careers and employability services, producing a separate report based on the survey responses from the 80 careers and employability leaders across the UK and Ireland who employ students in a range of capacities and roles. We found that the majority of HE careers and employability services are employing student workers in 2025 and that respondents felt that the benefits of employing student workers outweighed any drawbacks. Our research revealed significant enthusiasm for the work that student workers do.
HE careers and employability leaders found that employing student workers could make careers services more relatable and approachable for the wider student body, helping to break down barriers. Careers services also benefited from an enhanced understanding of student needs with student workers providing a student voice. In the report foreword, Dr Sophie-Louise Hyde of Loughborough University commented, 'It is fantastic to see AGCAS focusing on the key roles that student workers increasingly play in many higher education careers services.'
Employing student workers also helps careers staff to develop their own management, supervisory or mentoring experience. Almost a third of respondents found that employing students provided them with extra workload support, which freed up time to focus on more complex work.
Student workers: the student perspective
The top three benefits for student workers themselves, as reported by their employer, were the opportunities for skills development, practical work experience and paid work. This was explored further in a series of case studies from students directly capturing student experience and voice, where they reported personal growth, increased confidence, and development of their leadership, teamwork and time management skills.
The students also highlighted the range of practical experience they had built, from involvement in large scale events and media projects to peer mentoring and support. The case studies also reflected on holistic roles encompassing personal, professional and academic skills and the physical and online spaces where student workers and careers staff engage with the student body, with a focus on how to break down barriers to create accessible, welcoming environments.
Evolving and innovating
These reports are available to full AGCAS members. They include further data that allows institutions to benchmark their activities and levels of resource against the wider sector, explore sector opportunities and challenges, and build understanding of the extent, nature and complexity of contemporary careers and employability work.
Our findings demonstrate that careers and employability staff in HE are embracing change and opportunities for innovation. They also give insight into how AGCAS members are offering exemplary support and opportunities for their students and graduates, despite difficult times for the HE sector. We are pleased to be able to shine a light on these activities and approaches in these reports.
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