Robots are taking grad jobs. Do we give up or use our brains?
This year the number of graduate jobs advertised by employers has gone down 33 per cent. AI is to blame, naturally. Robots are doing the grunt work that previously fell to capitalism's least pitied whipping boys: recent history graduates who dream of accountancy qualifications and an annual holiday in Santorini. As a result we can expect to see a bunch of smart, overeducated youngsters wandering about with nothing to do.
In a way, this is an acceleration of something that was already happening. According to the most recent figures from the Office for National Statistics I can find, in 2017, 31 per cent of graduates were in jobs for which they were overeducated. We will now look back on them as the lucky ones. AI is about to make the problem so much worse.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
36 minutes ago
- The Sun
Struggling to sell your house? Boost your property price by £46k with 5 features buyers want, from as little as 55p
If your home's stuck on the market, small DIY tweaks could be the key to unlocking serious value – up to £80,000 in some cases – and you don't need a huge budget to get started. Across the UK, homeowners are turning to budget-friendly upgrades to help attract buyers and push up asking prices. From kitchen fixes to kerb appeal, these clever features are proving popular with house-hunters – and small upgrades, like new cupboard handles starting at just 55p, can make a big difference. Kitchens sell homes – and you don't need a full refit to impress. Just swapping out tired cupboard handles or giving walls a lick of paint could work wonders. Upgrade your kitchen Daniel Copley, Consumer Spokesperson at Zoopla, said: "The explosion of DIY trends on TikTok over the past year has undoubtedly led to an increase in people doing budget renovations. "We know kitchens are a key selling point for many buyers – and the centre of activity in many households – so DIY projects are often focussed on this space. "Getting this right can add value and make your home more appealing.' He added in an interview with Magnet: 'Superficial touches, such as replacing broken handles or treating worktops, could give your kitchen a quick update and improve your chances of adding value.' Even updating taps, resealing tiles, or adding stick-on splashbacks can bring your space up to date – and make it stand out in online listings. Swapping out an old kitchen tap can cost as little as £15–£30, depending on the style and finish. Resealing tiles with fresh silicone is another quick win, with sealant tubes priced at around £5–£10 each. For a more noticeable upgrade, stick-on splashbacks – including marble, tile-effect, or stainless steel designs – typically range from £10 to £30, and can completely transform tired kitchen walls in under an hour. Add panelling Panelling is one of the easiest ways to give a room a luxury feel without blowing the budget. Self-adhesive MDF or foam wall panels are widely available and cost between £12 and £60 per wall, depending on size and design. Popular choices include shaker-style and fluted timber-effect panels, often seen in hallways or bedrooms. You'll also need basic tools like a level, saw and adhesive – available from around £5 to £10 – making this one of the most affordable DIY upgrades that adds instant style. Popular in bedrooms and hallways, these DIY kits are now widely available and easy to install. Tool and DIY expert Glen Peskett from Saxton Blades explained: 'We're seeing a big shift toward cosmetic DIY this year, simple jobs that make your home feel more stylish, secure and ready to sell. I turned a derelict, rotten garage that people used as a loo into a stunning two-bedroom home "Many people are surprised how far a small spend can go when you've got the right tools and materials to do it yourself.'pan It's not just for the experts either. Many panels come pre-cut and self-adhesive, meaning you don't need power tools or professional help. Just a spirit level and a spare afternoon. Swap out light switches They're small, but buyers notice them. Old, yellowing switches can instantly date a home, while sleek flatplate alternatives make it feel more modern and put-together. Updating your light switches is a quick, low-effort job with high visual impact. Flatplate designs in black, brushed steel or brass start from just £4–£10 per switch, and are widely stocked by retailers like Toolstation and B&Q. Replacing a handful of tired switches throughout the home can give it a polished, contemporary edge that buyers instantly notice. Glen Peskett continued: "A quick aesthetic win. Swapping out dated white switches for flatplate, black or brushed brass alternatives instantly modernises interiors. "You'd be amazed how much sleeker a space feels with updated switches. It's the kind of detail buyers notice.' This is a quick fix that takes minutes and can be done room-by-room, keeping costs down while freshening up your interiors. EV charging points With more drivers going electric, homes with a charging point are increasingly attractive to buyers. The typical cost to install an electric car charger at home in the UK ranges from £800 to £1200, and whilst the upfront cost might seem steep, the potential payoff is worth it, especially in suburban or commuter areas. A 7kW charger is most common for households, with faster 22kW options costing more. Government grants may also be available to help with installation, depending on your location. Adding an EV point doesn't just future-proof your property – it makes it more desirable to eco-conscious and tech-savvy buyers. Up front cost: £800-1200 House price boost: £3,000 to £5,000 according to the National Association of Property Buyers. Boost curb appeal Cleaning windows, repainting your front door, and adding greenery with potted plants or hanging baskets can make your home more inviting from the moment buyers arrive. Curb appeal, or how your home looks from the street, can increase value by as much as 11 per cent, according to property experts. And you don't need a gardener – even just trimming hedges and clearing the path can make a noticeable difference. In competitive markets, a well-kept exterior can tip the scales in your favour and secure a quicker sale. With the average cost of moving house rising and the market still unpredictable, homeowners are getting creative. These simple, affordable improvements don't just add polish – they could also make or break your sale. And while you don't need to splash out on all five at once, even picking one or two could help your home stand out from the crowd. 2
The Sun
36 minutes ago
- The Sun
What happens to your equity release plan when you die?
IF you're looking to supplement your income in later life, equity release may be an option. But what happens to your plan when you die? Equity release can come in two forms, either as a lifetime mortgage or a home reversion plan. Get your FREE equity release calculation FIND HERE The most common form of equity release is a lifetime mortgage, which is a loan secured against your property. Whereas a home reversion plan allows homeowners to sell a portion of their home in exchange for a lump sum or a regular income, while still living there, typically rent-free. While structured differently, these types of equity release do share a few characteristics. For example, it's only available to homeowners over a certain age, the money you receive is tax free, and the plan finishes when the last person dies or moves into long-term care, at which point any outstanding balance would be repaid. That means taking out equity release will reduce the value of your estate - or in other words, it will leave less for an inheritance to your loved ones. So, below we explain what happens when your plan comes to an end. How does equity release work when you die or move into long-term care? Usually, for a lifetime mortgage, your home will need to be sold, and the proceeds from that sale will be used to repay any outstanding debt. This is the original capital borrowed plus any rolled-up interest. Similarly, for home reversion plans, the provider will be repaid when you die. But since these lenders own all or a portion of your home, the amount they'll be repaid depends on the percentage they own and the sale price of the property. So if your home has increased in value, the provider will benefit from the increase when your property is sold. Companies that are members of the Equity Release Council need to adhere to a strict set of rules, one of which states that plans come with a No Negative Equity Guarantee. This means your estate will never owe more than your property is worth when it is sold. This is an important feature if you're considering a lifetime mortgage. That's because if your home is sold after your death and it's worth less than your outstanding balance, your family won't be required to make up the shortfall. Find out how much you may be able to release FIND HERE Will my partner need to repay my lifetime mortgage when I die? Lifetime mortgages can be sold as joint policies, and in these instances, your surviving partner can continue to live in your home until they either die or move into long-term care. The plan will stay in place; however, the interest will continue to roll up. Some lenders do allow a 'Significant Life Event exemption' clause in your plan, which means you have the option to repay the mortgage without incurring early repayment charges if your spouse dies first. If it's not a joint policy with your partner, then they'll have the option to repay the outstanding balance or sell the home and move elsewhere. If you find a new partner after taking out equity release, then speak to an equity release advisor about adding them to your policy. Dangers of equity release EQUITY release can be a good way to unlock cash in retirement - but there are some dangers to consider, according to The Sun's Tara Evans. Interest rates on lifetime mortgages are around 5.5%, with some topping 8%. This means they can be more expensive than a traditional mortgage and you should always consider downsizing first. You could end up owing more than you borrowed, although it will never be more than the value of your home. Using equity release to take cash from your home will reduce the assets you have to pass on to loved ones when you die. It is a long-term commitment and you may be charged an early redemption fee that can be as high as 25% if you want to pay it off. Be aware that equity release could affect or stop your benefits. Always seek advice from a qualified equity release adviser. What happens if I move into full-time care? If the last policyholder moves into full-time care, then your equity release plan will need to be repaid. Once your home is sold and the proceeds are used to repay the lender, you can use the remaining balance to fund your care. If you don't have enough to afford the care you need, then you'll need to get in touch with your local authorities to investigate funding options. How long is there to repay the equity release lender after death? Equity release providers normally require the final bill to be settled no more than 12 months after your death. Your lender expects that the money released and any accrued interest will be repaid through the sale of your home, so it naturally allows time to market and negotiate the sale of the property. If the sale of your home is taking longer than expected, and whoever handles your estate is afraid of missing the deadline, they will need to get in touch with your lender to discuss options. Get your equity release calculation in seconds FIND HERE Does equity release interest stop on death? No, interest will continue to be charged on a lifetime mortgage until the outstanding balance is repaid to your lender. Will my house need to be sold to pay back my lifetime mortgage? In some instances, your beneficiary may decide they want to inherit your home and, as such, they would need to repay the outstanding balance via alternative means. However, this option will need to be discussed with your lender. Will there be any money left for inheritance? If leaving behind an inheritance for your loved ones is important, you can ring-fence a percentage of the equity in your home to be passed on to your beneficiaries when you pass away. In effect, this makes your home less valuable to your lender, and it does reduce the amount you can borrow. If this is important to you, make sure that your adviser knows to include it as a feature of your plan. Without it, the amount that is passed on to your beneficiaries will be impacted. What happens if house prices fall? A fall in house prices isn't good news for anyone with an equity release plan. For a lifetime mortgage, the amount you owe your lender doesn't change in line with any change in the house price. This means that after you have repaid the lender, if the house price has fallen, there will be less equity left over for your beneficiaries. For home reversion plans, things are different. If the house price falls, the percentage of equity in the home that you and the lender own will both drop in value. Can equity release be paid back before death? Equity release can be repaid early. Some plans allow you to make voluntary payments to stop the roll-up of interest and repay some of the capital; however, payments are subject to certain limits. Early repayment charges may apply above a set value, so if you do decide to repay the plan early, it's important to factor those charges into your decision. Sometimes, continuing to keep up with the interest repayments and repaying the outstanding balance when moving to long-term care or when you die is a better solution for you. Age Partnership is a trading name of Age Partnership Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. FCA registered number 425432. Company registered in England and Wales No. 5265969. VAT registration number 162 9355 92. Registered address, 2200 Century Way, Thorpe Park, Leeds, LS15 8ZB.
Daily Mail
43 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Trump threatens Putin with 100% tariffs
President Donald Trump says the U.S. will slap 100 percent tariffs on Russia if Vladimir Putin doesn't agree to a peace deal with Ukraine within 50 days. The president tore into Putin while meeting with NATO Secretary Mark Rutte in the Oval Office as his anger at the Russian dictator boiled over amid its escalating attacks on Ukraine. Trump said he'll be imposing secondary tariffs on Russia in 50 days if a deal to end the war isn't reached. 'We'll be doing tariffs in 50 days [on Russia] and we'll be doing tariffs - secondary tariffs - at 100 percent,' he said in the Oval Office on Monday. 'I'm disappointed in President Putin. I thought we would've had a deal two months ago,' he went on about the proposed peace deal. Trump will also send sophisticated weaponry, including Patriot missiles, to Ukraine – in his latest pivot in the brutal conflict. 'I'm going to have [ NATO Secretary] Mark Rutte speak about it, but we've made a deal today where we are going to be sending them weapons and they're going to be paying for them,' he stated. 'We - the United States - will not be having any payment made. We're not buying it, but we will manufacture it, and they're going to be paying for it.' Trump on Sunday night directed yet another sharp comment toward Russian President Vladimir Putin, as Russia continues to bombard its neighbor with missile and drone attacks. He confirmed that the U.S. will send Patriot missile defense systems that Ukraine says is vital to its defense, after his Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth instituted a pause that caused a sudden clash within his administration. There are also reports he will send offensive weaponry, after many of his allies have criticized the way way the Biden administration pushed weapons out the door following Russia's 2022 invasion. One tool potentially at his disposal is $3.85 billion in leftover drawdown authority from the prior administration. Trump has only hinted at aspects of the deal, which he has described has having European allies foot the bill for U.S. weaponry. 'We will send them Patriots, which they desperately need, because [Russian President Vladimir] Putin really surprised a lot of people. He talks nice and then bombs everybody in the evening,' Trump said in his latest barb at Putin. 'We basically are going to send them various pieces of very sophisticated military equipment. They are going to pay us 100 percent for that, and that's the way we want it,' Trump said. He also teased a 'major statement' on NATO, on a day he is set to meet at the White House with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte . The talks are set to include Secretary of State Marco Rubio , who is back from Malaysia after commenting on the hunt for an imposter who has been using AI to impersonate him , and Hegseth, who has been under fire for his handling of Ukraine after reportedly failing to brief the president on major policy moves. Describing the plan, Trump said: ' We basically are going to send them various pieces of very sophisticated military equipment. They are going to pay us 100 percent for that, and that's the way we want it.' Trump gave the latest hint in his stunning U-turn last week, when he said that the U.S. will 'have to' once again send powerful weapons to Ukraine, despite his administration pausing critical arms shipments the week before. Hegseth was sitting Trump at the time during his cabinet meeting. 'I don't know, why don't you tell me?' Trump replied when asked who ordered the weapons halt. Trump and his top aides have made skeptical comments about the effort to arm Ukraine, which dramatically turned back the thrust of Russia's initial invasion but has been stuck in a war of attrition on its own territory.
