Source: The Next Web
Entry-level work that historically served as a proving ground and recruiting channel for companies is being automated or consolidated into fewer positions, cutting off a critical onboarding path for early-career professionals. Internships have functioned as the primary mechanism for building professional networks, testing career fit, and creating employer-employee relationships. Their erosion forces universities and students to find alternative pathways into established industries, while companies lose a low-risk talent evaluation channel. The gap widens class divides: unpaid or low-paid internships already favored students with financial cushions; without even those positions available, access to professional gatekeeping becomes more dependent on existing networks or bootcamp credentials.