Unpaid work experience widespread, says groundbreaking study

Unpaid work experience is widespread with almost 60 per cent of young adults working for free over the last five years.

Unpaid work experience is widespread among Australian workers, with almost 60 per cent of young adults taking up an unpaid placement in the last five years.

Federal Government funded research, the first if its kind nationally, found 34 per cent of Australians aged 18 to 64 had engaged in unpaid work experience.

Among the 3800 adults surveyed, 58 per cent aged 18 to 29 years had participated in unpaid work

More than one in four respondents were offered paid employment by the host company or organisation.

But the survey results gave no clear indication whether undertaking the unpaid work improved a participant’s chances of finding a job.

About 70 per cent indicated they were either satisfied or very satisfied with the most recent period of unpaid work experience.

More than two-thirds agreed or strongly agreed they had developed relevant skills and new knowledge

Most thought that their most recent episode would help them to find employment, improve their networks, determine if a field of work was right for them, and develop their understanding of career opportunities in that field.

Of those who undertook unpaid work experience, 36 per cent said their most recent placement lasted more than a month. One third had undertaken a single internship or placement, while 21 per cent had undertaken five or more episodes in the past five years.

“Internships can certainly provide a useful bridge between education and work,” said University of Adelaide law professor Professor Stewart, who was one of the researchers.

“They can allow employers to test out potential staff and young people to get a taste of what a job might be like. But the more prevalent they become, the more important it is to ensure that they are properly managed and regulated.”

Sixty-one per cent indicated their most recent unpaid work experience was less than a month, while others were longer, with data suggesting many placements were on a part-time basis.