Working Paper: NBER ID: w26729
Authors: David A. Jaeger; John M. Nunley; Alan Seals; Eric J. Wilbrandt
Abstract: We describe the demand for interns in the U.S. using ads from an internship-specific website. We find that internships are more likely to be paid when more closely associated with a specific occupation, when the local labor market has lower unemployment, and when the local and federal minimum wage are the same. A résumé audit study with more than 11,500 applications reveals that employers are more likely to respond positively when internship applicants have previous internship experience. Employers are also less likely to respond to applicants with black-sounding names and when the applicant is more distant from the firm.
Keywords: Internships; Labor Market; Discrimination; Resume Audit
JEL Codes: I23; J23
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (J64) | Paid internships (M53) |
| Minimum wage (J38) | Paid internships (M53) |
| Occupation-specific internships (M53) | Paid internships (M53) |
| Local unemployment rates (J69) | Paid internships (M53) |
| Distance from firm (R30) | Positive responses from employers (M51) |
| Previous internship experience (Y80) | Positive responses from employers (M51) |