Student interest is not keeping up with employer demand, study finds

Employer demand is growing faster than student interest in major fields of study, according to a new study.

The "University as a Connector 2026" report from Nous Group, with data from Studyportals and Lightcast, was published on 28/10/2026. It looks at where student interest and employer demand are moving apart across Australia, Canada, the UK and the US.

In these countries, known as the "big four" (that attract the most international students), employer demand is outstripping student demand in Business and Engineering. With a lower margin, employer demand also surpasses student demand in Accounting, Finance, Nursing and Education.

In response to these findings, the study points out a "practical but challenging agenda for universities":

• Rethinking how they generate student interest in…