The number of internships available in the UK has dropped dramatically this year. This is making it harder for graduates and students to gain work experience.
Adzuna’s job search engine reports that the number of internships advertised has dropped by 30% since 2022. This October, there are only 3,817 available opportunities. Adzuna reported that there were almost 5,500 internships available at this time in 2023. This decline is a reflection of the wider job market where vacancies are at a three-year minimum and competition for graduate positions has reached an all-time high.
The internship is often seen as the first step to a successful career. Research shows that internships reduce the time required to become a director by 34%. According to research conducted by Beyond Academy, “immersive internship” firm, only 8.7% UK students have formal work experience compared to 21.5% US students.
The number of internships available in industries such as engineering, defence, and energy is on the rise, while IT, finance and law are experiencing a significant reduction.
James Neave is the head of data sciences at Adzuna. He said that this year’s internships were more competitive than ever.
Charlotte Davies, LinkedIn’s career expert, told The Times that internships are highly competitive. Most internships give you a chance to gain an understanding of different areas and teams within the company. This will allow you to discover the right fit for you.
However, because many students find coveted internships through family connections or lack of networks, it is difficult to get a position for those with lower socio-economic backgrounds.
An analysis by 2020’s Sutton Trust found that 20% of 10,000 graduates in internships six-months after graduation were not paid. Rebecca Montacute, who wrote the research, said that while internships are seen as necessary to progress in many industries and that they can be a great way to advance your career, this is not always the case. She stated: “Research shows that most people will pay a penalty for working unpaid, rather than benefit from a higher salary. And the internships that do pay off tend to be held by young people with the greatest privilege.”
Some organisations have created schemes to counteract these biases and offer opportunities to more people. Speakers for Schools is one charity that offers online work experience programs, eliminating geographical and cost barriers.
The 10,000 Interns Foundation also offers programmes to provide paid work experience to underrepresented groups. The foundation offers paid internships to black students and graduates in organisations such as Slaughter and May and the BBC, Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley.
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