The bar chart illustrates the number of university graduates applying for positions in four distinct sectors – Education, Retail, Finance, and IT – in 2015 and 2025, alongside projections for 2035.
Overall, Education and Retail experienced declines, while Finance and IT demonstrated consistent growth, with IT recording the most dramatic rise despite starting from the lowest base.
In 2015, Retail attracted the highest number of applicants at 400, followed by Education with 300, while Finance and IT stood at 250 and 50, respectively. By 2025, however, Finance had overtaken Retail, with 360 applicants compared to Retail’s 320. This downward trend is expected to continue, with Retail falling to 170 by 2035 and Education further declining to 180.
Conversely, Finance and IT demonstrate robust growth. Finance rose from 250 in 2015 to 360 in 2025 and is projected to reach 430 by 2035, making it the largest sector. IT, although starting at just 50 applicants, is expected to surge to 290 by 2035, nearly doubling its 2025 figure.
