College students are facing one of the most precarious labor markets in years. A recent New York Federal Reserve study pointed to a sharp increase in the post-college unemployed compared with other workers, with explanations ranging from artificial intelligence job displacement to a broader slowdown in hiring.

One response has been a boom in trade-school and apprenticeship programs that launch young people into “AI-proof” careers. But students at community and four-year colleges can also beat these headwinds and launch a career through on-the-job internships.

We’re a group of multidisciplinary scholars at The Ohio State University who study two paid internship programs in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, with a proven record of landing jobs for students. Although the two initiatives use different models, they both illustrate four lessons that colleges and employers can use to turn internships into genuine career pathways.

Just as notable is that a large share of these students come from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds, with many being the first in their families to go to college. These programs can serve as a powerful equalizer for young people who may not otherwise have such career opportunities.

Quality over quantity

Internships remain one of higher education’s most powerful tools for preparing students for work. Decades of research show that students who complete high-quality internships are more likely to secure job interviews and high-earning positions post-graduation.

At the same time, the number of internship opportunities is diminishing, even though that preparation matters more than ever. Artificial intelligence is transforming entry-level work, leading employers to increasingly value the human skills that machines cannot easily replicate: judgment, adaptability, collaboration and the ability to solve unfamiliar problems.

Academic leaders are recognizing these pressures. More than one-third of university presidents and two-thirds of community........

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