Access to and returns from unpaid graduate internships

Publication type

ISER Working Paper Series

Series Number

2017-07

Series

ISER Working Paper Series

Author

Publication date

June 8, 2017

Abstract:

We use the Destination of Leavers from Higher Education Survey (DLHE) to estimate the socio-economic gradient in access to unpaid internships among English and Welsh graduates six months after completing their first degree, and the return to this internship experience 3 years later in terms of salary, occupation, contract type and career satisfaction. We show a significant salary penalty at 3.5 years after graduation compared with those going straight into paid work or further study, but also that graduates from higher socio-economic status have an advantage in accessing internships while being significantly insulated from their negative effects.

Subjects

Notes

Is referenced by: Montacute, R. (2018) ‘Internships - unpaid, unadvertised, unfair’, The Sutton Trust Research Brief, No. 20. London: The Sutton Trust.

Is referenced by: (2017) 'Unpaid Work Experience (Prohibition) Bill [HL] - House of Lords Hansard debate, 27 October 2017'. London: Great Britain. Parliament.

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