The demand for interns

David A. Jaeger; John M. Nunley; R. Alan Seals; Carrie Shandra; Eric J. Wilbrandt

doi:10.1016/j.jebo.2023.03.002

The demand for interns

David A. Jaeger, John M. Nunley, R. Alan Seals^*, Carrie Shandra, Eric J. Wilbrandt

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

We describe the demand for interns in the U.S. using ads from an internship-specific website. We find that internships are more likely to be paid when more closely associated with a specific occupation, when the local labor market has lower unemployment, and when the local and federal minimum wage are the same. A résumé audit study with about 11,000 applications reveals that employers are more likely to respond positively when internship applicants have previous internship experience. Particularly for unpaid internships, employers are also less likely to respond to applicants with black-sounding names and when the applicant is more distant from the firm.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	372-390
Number of pages	19
Journal	Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization
Volume	209
Early online date	4 Apr 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2023.03.002
Publication status	Published - 1 May 2023

Keywords

Internships
Resume audit
Minimum wage
Racial discrimination
Unemployment
College major

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.jebo.2023.03.002

1 Working paper

The demand for interns
Jaeger, D. A., Nunley, J., Seals, A. & Wilbrandt, E., 10 Feb 2020, Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research, (Working Papers; no. 26729).
Research output: Working paper

Cite this

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title = "The demand for interns",

abstract = "We describe the demand for interns in the U.S. using ads from an internship-specific website. We find that internships are more likely to be paid when more closely associated with a specific occupation, when the local labor market has lower unemployment, and when the local and federal minimum wage are the same. A r{\'e}sum{\'e} audit study with about 11,000 applications reveals that employers are more likely to respond positively when internship applicants have previous internship experience. Particularly for unpaid internships, employers are also less likely to respond to applicants with black-sounding names and when the applicant is more distant from the firm.",

keywords = "Internships, Resume audit, Minimum wage, Racial discrimination, Unemployment, College major",

author = "Jaeger, {David A.} and Nunley, {John M.} and Seals, {R. Alan} and Carrie Shandra and Wilbrandt, {Eric J.}",

note = "Funding: The authors thank the Department of Economics at Auburn University and the Department of Economics and the College of Business Administration at the University of Wisconsin—La Crosse for generous funding.",

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doi = "10.1016/j.jebo.2023.03.002",

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AU - Jaeger, David A.

AU - Nunley, John M.

AU - Seals, R. Alan

AU - Shandra, Carrie

AU - Wilbrandt, Eric J.

N1 - Funding: The authors thank the Department of Economics at Auburn University and the Department of Economics and the College of Business Administration at the University of Wisconsin—La Crosse for generous funding.

PY - 2023/5/1

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N2 - We describe the demand for interns in the U.S. using ads from an internship-specific website. We find that internships are more likely to be paid when more closely associated with a specific occupation, when the local labor market has lower unemployment, and when the local and federal minimum wage are the same. A résumé audit study with about 11,000 applications reveals that employers are more likely to respond positively when internship applicants have previous internship experience. Particularly for unpaid internships, employers are also less likely to respond to applicants with black-sounding names and when the applicant is more distant from the firm.

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KW - Internships

KW - Resume audit

KW - Minimum wage

KW - Racial discrimination

KW - Unemployment

KW - College major

U2 - 10.1016/j.jebo.2023.03.002

DO - 10.1016/j.jebo.2023.03.002

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SN - 0167-2681

VL - 209

SP - 372

EP - 390

JO - Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization

JF - Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization

ER -

The demand for interns

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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Research output

The demand for interns

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