The short answer: It's doing both. There are fewer internships and more applicants for each one, so the search is harder than it was a few years ago. But employers still plan to hire interns, skills-based hiring is growing, and students who complete an internship are much more likely to get a job. In 2026, the students who succeed start early, build skills they can prove, and look past the most crowded fields.
There are fewer internships, and more students want each one. Handshake, the hiring platform, says internship postings fell at least 10 percent in each of the last three recruiting seasons, and 30 percent of tech internships and 42 percent of professional services internships disappeared between 2023 and 2025. Meanwhile, the average Handshake internship posting in the 2025 academic year drew 109 applicants, up from 62 the year before.
The gap starts before college. Data compiled by Forbes shows 79 percent of high school students wanted an internship, but only 2 percent got one. At the college level, the Business–Higher Education Forum found that 8.2 million students were interested in internships and 4.6 million could not take part.
Three economic forces are working against students.
Entry-level hiring has tightened. ZipRecruiter's 2026 Graduate Survey found that more job seekers are competing for entry-level roles while a smaller share of open jobs are entry-level. When employers feel unsure about the economy, the roles that require the most training are often the first to go.
AI is changing early-career work. Washington Monthly reports that in many white-collar settings, the latest AI models can handle much of what interns used to do. Internships still exist, but employers now expect more from the interns they hire.
Recruiting starts earlier. Handshake's 2026 Internship Report shows application activity now peaks in early fall, and some freshmen are applying in their first semester. Students who wait until spring often compete for whatever is left.
Not everything is going against students. NACE's 2026 Internship & Co-op Report found employers expect to bring in 3.9 percent more interns in 2025–26 than in 2024–25. Employers also raised their Class of 2026 hiring projection to a 5.6 percent increase, and companies with more than 5,000 employees are increasing hiring by 8.7 percent.
Employers are also paying more attention to skills. In NACE's Job Outlook 2026 survey, 70 percent of employers said they use skills-based hiring, up from 65 percent the year before.
An internship also pays off more than ever. CNN, citing ZipRecruiter estimates, reported that roughly four-fifths of college graduates who worked during school were hired soon after graduating. Graduates with a paid internship average 1.01 job offers and a $68,000 starting salary. Graduates with an unpaid internship average 0.66 offers and $53,000.
Wherever you live, middle-skill careers are among the biggest opportunities in today's economy. These jobs require training beyond high school but less than a four-year degree. The National Skills Coalition reports that 53 percent of U.S. jobs are middle-skill, but only 43 percent of workers are trained at that level. Its analysis also found that these jobs make up the largest share of the labor market in all 50 states, in fields like healthcare, IT, advanced manufacturing, and the skilled trades.
That means students in Ohio, California, Georgia, or anywhere in between can find strong on-ramps through Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, registered apprenticeships, and paid internships with regional employers.
Start early. Build your target list and update your resume in late summer so you're ready when fall recruiting opens.
Stay visible. Handshake found that students are more likely to apply after interacting with an employer several times, and that steady visibility now matters more than a company's size or brand.
Lead with skills. Keep a record of your projects, certifications, and examples of problems you solved. Employers that hire for skills want evidence, not just a major.
Look beyond the crowded fields. Tech and finance get the most applicants. Healthcare, skilled trades, public service, and local employers often offer paid internships and apprenticeships with less competition.
Are internships harder to get in 2026?
Yes. Internship postings have dropped in each of the last three recruiting seasons, and the number of applicants per posting has nearly doubled.
Do internships still lead to full-time jobs?
Yes. ZipRecruiter found that 24.7 percent of students who completed an internship landed a job offer before graduation, compared with 20.3 percent of employed recent grads overall.
What if I can't find an internship?
Look at apprenticeships, CTE work-based learning, research roles, and part-time jobs. ZipRecruiter's research shows that any work experience on a resume helps graduates land their first job.
A tough market rewards applications that fit the role, not a high application count. Sending hundreds of applications and hoping one sticks isn't a strategy. pēpelwerk (that's people-work) helps students find the opportunities that fit them and show employers exactly why they're ready.
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