A cruise industry leader has urged the UK government to do more to support entry-level jobs after graduate vacancies fell to their lowest level on record

Job website Adzuna recorded just 8,383 graduate vacancies in July, down 45 per cent year-on-year and the lowest figure since records began in 2016.

Edwina Lonsdale, founder of the Cruise Compass Project, told Cruise Trade News that greater focus should be placed on preparing young people for the modern workplace and the travel industry should use AI to improve efficiency rather than replace junior employees.

“Government support for entry level roles should be about better preparing young graduates and entry level college students for the modern workplace, with a robust focus on people skills and face to face communications.

“We hear dire reports about the job market and opportunities for graduates, and a variety of industries are able to use new and AI powered technology to replace junior staff. In our view this is a shortsighted strategy.

“Travel is and will continue to be a people business in most cases and cruise companies are well placed to use AI to grow their businesses rather than to replace staff, enhancing efficiency in administrative tasks whilst freeing up staff to improve client relations.”

Encouragingly, the picture for overall travel recruitment appears more positive. Adzuna’s figures showed the industry was one of four sectors to record genuine year-on-year vacancy growth in May.