Is this the end?

UK national and I’m here on a 2 year IEC work permit that expires in September. My third year application hasn’t been approved yet, and my chances of approval went from excellent to unlikely even though my circumstances haven’t changed. I’ve been told to apply for the Young Professionals stream but my employer isn’t interested. It’s too late for me to apply for PR, so I guess I’m going home?

I know it’s stupid because the IEC was only ever temporary, but it’s so sad to think of everything I’ll be leaving behind. As a side note, I have a pending citizenship application but that could take another 8 months.

Is there anything else I can do to be allowed to work until something comes through?