The exclusion of un(der)paid internships 

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Internships have traditionally provided college students to gain experience in a specific field or offered students a chance to pivot in their careers. However, the significant rise in un(der)paid internships within the EU in recent decades has sparked ongoing debate about the risk of excluding economically marginalized individuals from accessing and benefiting from these opportunities. 

University programs world wide are designed to pay ways for the student to apply for an internship during his or her studies. Unfortunately, a lot of internships are un(der)paid, which means that it’s the student that has to grant financial support. Research by the European Youth Forum shows that an unpaid internship costs young people (15-29 years), on average, 1,000 EUR. The 2023 Eurobarometer on labor market transitions reveals that most young people complete at least two internships, but only half are paid.

Un(der)paid internships not only have a negative impact on young people’s financial security, career prospects and mental health, but also exclude those without the financial means to work for free. In Sweden, students are granted a student-loan, CSN, which is a monthly loan with a low interest rate. Thanks to CSN, a Swedish student has the opportunity of self-financing during six years of full time studies. But this is not the case in other European countries. 

I plan to apply for an internship during my studies, as will 3.7 million other young people across Europe, all embarking on their professional journeys. Thanks to the financial support I receive from CSN, being accepted into an un(der)paid internship remains a viable option. But what about the young people that aren’t granted a loan with low interest rate, those who don’t have the financial safety net of a supportive family and are already struggling to make ends meet? 

In 2023, the European Parliament officially voted to ban unpaid internships, but while the vote represents a pivotal moment, the actual implementation of the ban is still in its early stages. Corporations and the EU must work together to create safer social and economic conditions that foster more equal access to internship opportunities. Gaining valuable experiences that lead to high-paying jobs should not require privilege, and those who can’t afford to work without pay should not be the bearers of the consequences.