ALMOST a third of university graduate interns are working for nothing in a bid to kick-start their career, even though it can cost them hundreds of pounds a month, research suggests.
At any one time, there are at least 21,000 people working as unpaid interns in the UK, according to a new analysis by the Sutton Trust.
It warned that unpaid internships are increasingly seen as the first step towards a career in highly competitive professions, such as journalism, politics and law, but many people may be losing out because they cannot afford to work for free.
A six-month unpaid placement in London would cost more than £5,500 excluding transport, while for a similar position in Manchester a graduate would need over £4,700.
The figures come as a new survey conducted by the Trust found that almost seven in 10 people in England believe that unpaid internships are unfair because only those from wealthy families are likely to be able to work for a significant period without pay.
A similar proportion agreed that unpaid internships are unfair because everybody working should be paid some sort of salary.
"Internships commonly represent a first step on the ladder towards a professional career in the most competitive sectors, including fashion, journalism, politics, law, finance and the charity sector," the report says.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here