Where have all the entry-level creative jobs gone?

Looking for a job? You probably don’t need anyone to tell you that the old career ladder has been rather wobbly of late. Its lowest rung is slowly crumbling, its guardrails are disappearing; even those clinging on risk being flung away. For an early-career creative, trying to get a foothold in the industry is tougher than ever. Since when did starting out become such a struggle – and what does it mean for the career you want to create?

Welcome to the jobpocalypse

The numbers don’t lie: finding a job is a nightmare right now. Just four years ago, UK companies were hiring like never before as they bounced back from the pandemic. Today, vacancies are at their lowest level in a decade (outside 2020–2021), with thousands of arts, entertainment and recreation roles getting scrapped year on year.

But it’s been especially hard for young people. Graduate jobs have dropped by over 40% in recent months, far outpacing the wider market. Apprenticeships are found in only 5% of creative businesses. Even those with a foot in the door are feeling the squeeze, with salaries stagnating and redundancies on the rise. All of that has left almost a million youth out of work, education or training in the UK, a disproportionate number of which are from underrepresented backgrounds. Entry-level? It’s more like challenge level: impossible.

Emerging creatives at our portfolio review event with Google earlier this year

So why isn’t anyone hiring you?

AI has entered the chat
The elephant in the room is, you guessed it, artificial intelligence (AI). After the technology went mainstream in 2022, creatives experimented with using it to polish their job applications and practise for interviews, even as they worried about how it might affect the industry more broadly. Creative businesses were just as curious (and cautious). Sure, AI churned out work quickly and cheaply, but what about originality and individuality, not to mention human artistry? Today, many of those reservations have taken a backseat. Within two years, the number of UK creative firms using generative AI has jumped from less than 1% to around 53%, according to Creative Access – and that’s added to the pressure on junior roles.

“There is generally goodwill towards entry-level talent,” says James McLearie from Represent Recruitment. “Still, the reality of running a business at the moment means people are realistic about the tools available to do a job cheaply and efficiently.” A poll of over 850 business leaders found that two in five companies have already slashed entry-level roles due to “efficiencies made by AI”, with some believing the technology can equal or even outperform human staff.

We used to cut our teeth on basic tasks – now, that work is automated. We used to generate fresh ideas – now, our suggestions vie against the machine. Even resumés and interviews are handed over to the algorithm, which often gets free rein to reject candidates despite companies admitting there’s bias. It’s AI’s world; we’re all just living in it.

Blame the bots? Try the budgets
But while “AI is replacing entry-level roles” makes for punchy headlines, experts point out that some companies could well be exaggerating the impact of the new technology to cover up for old-fashioned cost-cutting. Leading economists argue that the real drag on hiring is broader economic uncertainty. With growth crawling at a meagre 0.1% in the UK – even as taxes and costs rise – employers are skittish about making any new hires, let alone juniors who need time to learn the ropes.

Recruiter from our Company Partner, Craft

It’s a quarter-life crisis in the making

Financial insecurity as a new normal
Struggling to get their first foothold on the ladder, young creatives are hard-pressed to make ends meet. “Money is a big consideration,” says Gabriela Zmau, a graphic design graduate from Nottingham Trent University. “When I finished, I had some savings meant exactly for this in-between period – but if I don’t start getting paid jobs soon, I will have to consider other alternatives.”

Like Gabriela, many young creatives are getting by with freelance gigs and short-term contracts, which are far from steady. Bectu, a UK-based trade union, reports that 39% of creative freelancers are currently out of work and 82% feel their work is precarious, not least because freelancing is being hit by the same forces shrinking entry-level pathways.

Chasing an impossible entry-level checklist
Yet, the longer young creatives are locked out of the job market, the less easy it is for us to meet the ever more demanding entry-level criteria. Many employers now expect junior candidates to arrive with advanced degrees, several years of experience, and soft and hard skills that used to be developed on the job.

Making those leaps on your own is a tall order – especially since the bridge between education and work is all but gone. “Higher education providers can hone students’ craft, get them job-ready and introduce them to recruiters,” says Dr Kate Wicklow of GuildHE, a representative body for UK higher education, championing distinction and diversity in the sector. “But the industry also needs to recognise the barriers it creates.”

Burnout before you even start
All these pressures are taking a serious toll on young people’s mental health. According to a survey by The King’s Trust, half of unemployed youth feel hopeless about the future, while nearly all – even those who are working – worry about their prospects every single day. “It feels very much like the experience of a baby chick trying to learn how to fly by himself – painful,” says Gabriela.

Where do we go from here?

Cover your financial bases
Getting disheartened is understandable, but don’t write yourself off just yet. Step one: sort out your finances. If you’re unemployed or working less than 16 hours a week, you may be eligible for benefits, grants, or other forms of monetary support. Turn2us, a financial charity, offers a useful guide to help you figure out what’s available.

A part-time or temporary role – even in non-creative sectors like retail and hospitality – can also help pay the bills while you chase a full-time creative job. These gigs might feel like a detour from your ideal path, but think of them as pit stops along the way: they keep you going and give you space to focus on your applications. In the UK, there’s even been a slight uptick in demand for temporary listings, and platforms like IndeedFlex or Pertemps are good places to start.

Enter by the side door
“I’ve seen fewer people converting from internships into permanent work, which is a huge problem,” observes James of Represent Recruitment. So it’s worth casting your net a bit wider – and even moving sideways instead.

Say a design studio is only hiring for an operations role right now – it may not be purely creative, but it could open new doors within the company down the line. Or perhaps a tech firm is looking for a social media manager – it may not be your dream industry, but the job still flexes your creative skills and could help you pivot later on. “Creative graduates transition very successfully into a variety of other industries, applying their problem-solving, adaptability and critical thinking skills to new challenges,” says Kate of GuildHE.

Follow the hiring trail
It also helps to know who’s actually entry-level-friendly at the moment. James notes that in-house and brand-based roles tend to welcome entry-level applicants more readily. “They often have more established career plans and structures to integrate junior talent,” he explains. “Studios and agencies have definitely been more squeezed by the current economic climate.” Focus on the companies that are more likely to take you on, and tailor your applications to match the roles they’re looking for.

Creative Mentor Network

Talk is not overrated
Staring into the application void can be mind-numbing. But jobs don’t just appear on portals – they also travel through people. As one report found, 54% of workers were hired through connections. Who you know still matters way too much – especially in the creative industry, where the cultural capital of family and friends can give some a serious headstart. The current job crunch has only made these inequalities in accessibility more pronounced.

But fret not if you’re no nepo baby: networking can also open doors. Creative communities and collectives such as Designerrrs or Fuse Manchester are great places to start, as they give you a chance to meet like-minded people, discuss ideas and even hear about new openings. Mentorships – such as those provided by Creative Mentor Network and Arts Emergency – are also invaluable ways to connect with senior creatives who can offer advice, shadowing opportunities and introductions within the industry.

Keep tending your creative spark
Job hunting can be a blow to your confidence, but it’s worth keeping your skills sharp and your practice alive. “I created a schedule, similar to a creative studio, where I would continue working on my creative endeavours,” says Gabriela, a recent design graduate. “Some days I am better; others I miss completely – but it kept me grounded and helped me keep working on creative stuff.”

One way to nurture that creativity is by working on self-initiated projects – you could come up with your own brief, tackle one from the Ideas Foundation, or enter D&AD New Blood Awards to try those set by global brands. Another way is through volunteering for organisations that need creative help, which builds real, portfolio-ready work while giving back. Don’t forget building new skills too: whether it’s coding, web design, or digital typography, affordable courses on platforms like Domestika, SuperHi and ScreenSkills can help you expand your toolkit and keep growing creatively.

Staying in the game

Entering the working world today does feel less like climbing a ladder, and more like grappling with an obstacle course. No one really knows when the economy will improve, or when businesses will start investing in talent again. “Graduates and juniors shouldn’t put too much pressure on themselves or become overwhelmed,” says James from Represent Recruitment. “Just focus on controlling the controllables and don’t stress about what you can’t change.”

For more tools and tips to help you keep searching, creating and connecting, check out these resources: