In a poignant LinkedIn post that has resonated with many, Swetha Kothandan, an Indian student in the UK, has offered to work for free in a desperate bid to secure employment and extend her stay in the country. After graduating with a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Leicester in 2022, Kothandan’s struggles reflect the wider issue of declining job opportunities affecting many international students in the UK, including from India.
As per the most recent statistics, India is one of the top sources of international students in the UK. According to Universities UK, the advocacy organization for universities in the United Kingdom, there were 126,535. Indian student admissions to UK higher education institutions in 2021-22, making India the second largest contributor after China? UK government figures estimate that each international student is worth more than £100,000 to the UK economy over the course of their stay.
Despite these significant numbers, international students, including Indian graduates, are struggling to find employment. Now the big question is: Britain’s Economic recession Making it difficult for Indian students to get jobs?
Fewer job opportunities in the UK: alarming statistics
As of October 2023, the UK was facing a challenging economic landscape marked by high inflation and rising unemployment. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the unemployment rate rose to 4.2% in February 2024, up from 3.9% a few months ago. According to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), UK businesses are significantly cutting back on recruitment, with around 70% of companies reducing their recruitment activities due to financial constraints. This contraction for international students means fewer graduate-level jobs available in the market. Therefore, for many graduates, especially from non-EU countries like India, the path to securing a visa-sponsored job has become more difficult.
Despite the increase in wage growth, many sectors are still facing stagnation, especially in high-skilled occupations. The hospitality industry reported a remarkable 8.4% average pay rise, while the IT and professional sectors lagged behind, with pay rises of 4% and 3% respectively, ONS data suggests. This disparity highlights the challenges graduates face in technical fields where employers are reluctant to commit to new hires.
How is the economic downturn in the UK affecting Indian students?
For Indian students in the UK, the economic downturn has added fuel to an already burning fire in the job market. Many of these graduates, who had invested millions in their education, hoped to secure roles in growing fields such as IT, healthcare, engineering and finance. But as the economy falters, these once-promising industries have recently cut back on hiring, limiting opportunities for new graduates.
The situation is even worse in industries such as retail and hospitality, which traditionally offer entry-level positions to international graduates from India.
These sectors aren’t just providing fewer jobs—they’re also driving down wages, media reports suggest. While the cost of living has skyrocketed, particularly in cities like London, wages have failed to keep up with inflation. Does this create a nightmare scenario where students struggle to make ends meet while dealing with an increasingly expensive lifestyle?
To make matters worse, many employers are using the recession as a reason to tighten their belts, blaming economic uncertainty and inflation for their reluctance to hire. In an environment where businesses are cutting costs, it’s no surprise that local candidates are being prioritized over international talent. Are employers unwilling to go through the hassle of sponsors and visa applications when they can hire someone without these complications?
Due to the economic recession, the entire industry has also come to a standstill. Prolonged illness and strikes have depleted the labor force, adding pressure to an already limited job pool. According to the ONS, by the start of 2024, around 850,000 working-age people in the UK were classified as economically inactive, including those on long-term sick leave. Is this demographic shift a huge burden on an already struggling job market, making it even harder for new graduates – especially those without local work experience or professional networks – to break through?
For Indian and other international students, this combination of fewer opportunities, increased competition, and a stubbornly slow economy is creating insurmountable barriers to success. After years of studying abroad and investing significant sums of money, many are finding it impossible to justify the financial and emotional cost of their education when the job market is shrinking. Faced with few options, they are forced to make painful choices: return home, take jobs that pay a fraction of their worth, offer to work for free, or settle for positions that do not justify their qualifications. This scenario undermines the entire purpose of their educational investment and leaves them wondering if it was worth it in the first place.
The ethics of Unpaid work: A raging debate
Kothandan sent his application to more than 300 posts, only to receive a handful of constructive responses. His plea—“My graduate visa expires in 3 months… This LinkedIn post is my last chance to secure a long-term future in the UK”—captures the urgency many international students feel when they find themselves in a similar predicament. With companies reluctant to sponsor visas amid economic uncertainty, the current job market looks unsettled.
Kothandan’s offer to work for free for a month is a clear illustration of desperation in a tight job market. Many have expressed concern over such practices, arguing that they undermine the value of skilled work and set a troubling precedent for future job seekers. Some LinkedIn users advised her not to work for free, suggesting it would reflect poorly on her qualifications and the value of her degree.
A call to action: Supporting international students in a volatile economy
Kothandan’s plight also raises important questions about the support systems available to international students in the UK. As many face similar challenges, governments and educational institutions must reassess their role in facilitating employment and visa sponsorships for graduates.
As the UK economy begins to show signs of recovery, with the latest ONS report showing GDP growth of 0.6% in January to March 2024, policymakers need to address these systemic issues. Supporting graduates to find meaningful employment should be a priority not only to retain talent, but also to ensure that the UK remains an attractive destination for international students in the future.
In light of these challenges, conversations around the value of work, the impact of unpaid internships and the broader economic environment must continue to evolve, ensuring that the aspirations of students like Kothandan are met with opportunity rather than frustration.