Higher Education and Employability
Peer reviewed
Abstract
Abstract
Purpose This study examines the relationship between curricular university internships and labour market outcomes for university graduates in Spain. It investigates both short- and long-term associations across two graduate cohorts. Design/methodology/approach The analysis draws on microdata from two cohorts (2014 and 2010) of the Spanish University Graduate Job Placement Survey. Linear probability models are estimated to assess the relationship between internship participation and several labour market outcomes, including job-search duration after graduation, as well as employment and salary status five years later. To address selection and omitted variable bias, the study applies several propensity-score-based approaches and Oster's (2019) method. Findings Participation in curricular internships is consistently associated with a shorter time to secure the first job after graduation. However, no statistically significant relationship is found with longer-term employment or wage outcomes. The estimated associations remain stable across cohorts, suggesting that the relationship between internships and early labour market entry is similar under different macroeconomic and institutional contexts. These findings suggest that curricular internships may operate as a resilient mechanism for supporting the transition from higher education to employment. Originality/value Spain offers a compelling case study, given the distinctive characteristics of its youth labour market and higher education system. By comparing short- and long-term outcomes across two graduate cohorts, this study offers new evidence on the temporal stability of the role curricular internships may play in the transition from education to employment.
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@article{Meglio2026Learning,
title = {Learning to work: University internships and the transition to employment in Spain},
author = {Gisela Di Meglio and Jorge Gallego and Andrés Barge‐Gil and García Moreno and Ester Camiña},
journal = {Education + Training},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1108/et-07-2025-0528},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1108/et-07-2025-0528}
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