The impact of internships on job attainment: An applied analysis of economics and business administration degrees

Abstract

Undergraduate internships are now deeply embedded in higher education systems. However, they have been largely neglected in academic research, in particular in the case of Spain. The aim of this paper is to analyze the effect of internships on the employability and wages of students. The degree of satisfaction with work placements and their perceived usefulness is also examined. The study is based on data gathered from Economics and Business Administration students of the Complutense University of Madrid participating in internships during 2012-2016. The results of linear probability models and probit models show that internships allowing for the development of communication skills and problem management abilities improve the probability of being employed and earning higher salaries, respectively. Furthermore, greater satisfaction of students and perceived usefulness of internships is closely related to gaining ICT-related skills.