34 Appendices Introduction Employment Thematic analysis Applicant Index Report 2026 Figure 29: Strong agreement with Employment statements 2025-26 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% I am confident about getting the job I want after graduation 44 % 39 % I have skills and experience that employers want 43 % 37 % I already have a lot of work experience 33 % 29 % I have taken part in activities to develop my skills for employment 43 % 38 % 45% 50% 2025 2026 As in previous years, international applicants are significantly more confident than UK applicants across all areas. Socioeconomic status also shapes confidence about graduate employment and work experience, with applicants from groups D and E less confident on both. Applicants from fee ‑ paying schools are also more likely to feel they have the skills and experience employers want. Belonging, equity and inclusion Back to contents The change in employment confidence is illustrated by the changes in strong agreement with the employability index statements since last year.