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Entry-level jobs used to serve a clear purpose: They were the first rung on the career ladder. They allowed young adults to learn, contribute and earn a living as they transitioned from college students to career professionals.

Today, that rung is disappearing, replaced by internships that often fail to provide meaningful experience or fair compensation. As a result, an entire generation of college students is being locked out of the workplaces they’re trying to enter.

The shift is subtle but significant. Many supposed entry-level roles are now offered as internships or require applicants to already have years of work experience. This creates a paradox in which employers expect students and graduates to have experience before they are able to gain any.

Data from 2023 and 2024 shows that only 60% of internships in the United States are paid. What was once an accessible launch point has become a gated system where only those who can afford to work with little or no pay can participate.

The heart of the issue is a split between what internships promise and what they deliver. In theory, internships are designed to provide hands-on learning, mentorship and exposure to a workplace environment. In practice, many interns find themselves relegated to low-skill, administrative tasks — busywork that 70% of hiring........

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