Hiring up for interns, entry-level workers

U.S. employers expect to hire more interns this year than last year, according to a new report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), which also shows positive projections for full-time, entry-level hires.

RELATED: Ohio economy expected to heat up in 2017

The combined trends indicate employers are once again hiring interns to supplement their full-time workforces rather than relying on interns to shore up areas where full-time hiring has been cut.

RELATED: Working part-time by choice

Employers nationwide anticipate hiring 3.4 percent more interns in 2017 than they did in 2016, while full-time, entry-level hires were expected to rise 5.8 percent, according to the NACE’s 2017 Internship & Co-op Survey.

This year is the first year since 2013 that employers have reported positive hiring projections for interns and full-time, entry-level hires.

RELATED: Many working age men simply don't want a job

In 2017, the strongest hiring projections for interns were associated with employers with more than 20,000 employees, and those in the Mid-Atlantic region. The weakest projections were associated with employers with 501 to 1,000 employees in the Midwest region, which includes Ohio.

About the Author