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Students Hunt Scarce Internships Amid AI Takeover
25 Apr
Summary
- Internship postings declined significantly on major job platforms.
- Applicant numbers per internship have more than doubled since 2023.
- AI is increasingly performing tasks previously done by interns.
The pursuit of internships, crucial for post-graduation employment, has become significantly more challenging for students and recent graduates. Internship postings on platforms such as Handshake have seen a notable decrease, continuing a trend observed since 2023. Concurrently, the number of applicants per internship has more than doubled since 2023, escalating competition.
This intensified scramble is fueled by a slower employer hiring pace and the increasing integration of AI in entry-level roles. Some companies are now using AI for tasks previously handled by interns, leading to reduced internship opportunities. For instance, a musicology and economics major noted that a finance firm no longer offered internships because AI now performs those duties.
Despite some employers increasing their intern class sizes, others have reduced or canceled programs. This environment pushes students to start their internship search much earlier, with some even applying for opportunities a year or more in advance. The underemployment rate for recent college graduates was 42.5% as of late 2025, underscoring the difficulty in securing meaningful employment.
