Unpaid Internships: A Barrier for Working-Class Youth in the UK

Young People Locked Out of Careers

Young individuals from working-class or disadvantaged backgrounds are facing barriers in their career paths due to unpaid or low-paid internships that primarily benefit middle-class graduates, as reported by the Sutton Trust, a social mobility charity.

Research Findings

The Sutton Trust's study highlights that middle-class graduates utilize internships as crucial stepping stones into lucrative sectors such as finance and IT, often accepting positions that pay less than the minimum wage or are unpaid. The charity's CEO, Nick Harrison, expressed concern over this trend, stating, "Internships are an increasingly critical route into the best jobs, and it’s shocking that in this day and age, many employers still pay interns below the minimum wage, or worse, nothing at all. They should be ashamed."

Government Action Needed

The UK government has promised to ban unpaid internships, which is deemed necessary to ensure equal opportunities for all young people, particularly those without financial support from their families. Harrison emphasized that banning this outdated practice is a no-brainer that should be implemented promptly.

Survey Insights

A recent survey of 1,200 recent graduates revealed that 55% of middle-class young people had undertaken internships, compared to only 36% from working-class families. This gap has widened significantly since 2018. Despite legislative changes, 61% of internships remain unpaid or underpaid, forcing many young people to rely on family support or savings to pursue these opportunities.

Sector Analysis

Internships offering low or no pay are most common in the real estate, construction, IT, finance, and legal sectors. Conversely, the retail sector is more likely to pay at least minimum wage, followed by media, marketing, and advertising companies.

Call for Reform

The Sutton Trust advocates for a ban on unpaid internships lasting four weeks or longer, along with better enforcement of existing minimum wage laws. A YouGov survey indicated that 38% of employers in Great Britain support banning unpaid internships, with an additional 30% calling for stricter enforcement of wage laws.

Expanding Access to Opportunities

Harrison also highlighted the need for employers to broaden their talent pool by ensuring all internship positions are publicly advertised. The disparity continues, as graduates with professional connections are almost twice as likely to have had an internship compared to those without, and only 40% of state school attendees have interned, compared to 71% of private school students.