It’s not essay mills that are doing the grinding

I think the worry about degrees not reflecting academic achievement is silly. What is a third or a "pass" supposed to represent? An average persons ability to complete the course? If that is the case they would expect people to get 2:1s most of the time because nearly all students pick their strongest subject and hence should all be "better than average". I have never felt degree classifications were supposed to differentiate students from each other but intended to say "they have acquired knowledge up to this standard". I do think universities fail to pass on important study skills and knowledge before throwing students into the deep end. We are often expected to simply figure out how to construct a good essay or report with minimal guidance. Unfortunately this learning process is undermined with the knowledge that this "practice" is graded and can affect our future prospects.

Surely employers actually bear some responsibility? By refusing to invest in a serious way in on-the-job training and also requiring a 2:1 for jobs that manifestly have no need of a degree at all they push many on to a path to which they are not particularly suited, and in which they are not particularly interested, with utilitarian results.

I still do not understand what the problem is supposed to be. Essays are usually part of the coursework and contribute maybe 5% towards the final coursemark at best. Spending money on buying an essay for such a small contribution is just stupid. Also, students, who do not practice essay-writing because they buy them from essay mills, will do worse in the actual exams and therefore get the just punishment. It is actually quite self-regulating ...

With the oncoming fourth industrial revolution of artificial intelligence there will be less need for universities.

@Dr. Victor Frankenstein - that depends on the course - some have far more than 5% as coursework. I've seen modules vary from 100% exam, to 100% coursework - with everything in between. And, for most (all?) students in HE, the largest single item of assessment, the thesis/ major project / call it what you will, is all effectively coursework, and something that can be bought.