Month: May 2026

There is no shortage of sensational headlines in the public sphere about the growing youth unemployment and labor market problems – lack of motivation or too high expectations for working conditions. However, a systemic gap that affects the beginning of a professional path is often ignored – unpaid internships. Today, they are becoming the norm that many students cannot afford. The real price of internships According to the European Youth Forum, an average six-month unpaid internship can cost about 6,169 euros. This amount includes basic living expenses – housing, food, transportation. Another 7,218 euros – this is the average income lost over six months by choosing unpaid internships instead of paid work. This also means lost state budget revenue, since taxes are not paid on these amounts. The data also show clear social inequality: young people from wealthy families are eight times more likely to indicate the possibility of “buying” Read More…