Survey: 44% of businesses seeking interns in 2022

Nearly all of those expect to hire interns for jobs afterward 

Facing a critical lack of skilled workers, some U.S. hiring decision-makers are looking to create their own trained workforce. 

A new survey from The Harris Poll, commissioned by Express Employment Professionals, found that 44 percent of businesses plan to bring on interns in 2022 with 94 percent likely to hire interns as part- or full-time employees afterward.

The majority (84 percent) of hiring decision-makers say interns will be paid for their time, the survey found.

Early, on-the-job experience is invaluable and that knowledge transfer between experts and younger generations is even more important with baby boomers retiring in multitudes, according to Express Employment International CEO Bill Stoller.

“With a large number of internships and apprenticeships expected to be offered by companies this year, those looking to break into new fields should jump at the chance to add real-world experience to their resumes and an advantage over their competition,” Stoller added.

The survey was conducted online within the U.S. by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals between Nov. 10 and Dec. 2, 2021, among 1,009 U.S. hiring decision-makers (defined as adults ages 18-plus in the U.S. who are employed full-time or self-employed, work at companies with more than one employee, and have full/significant involvement in hiring decisions at their company). 

Express Employment International, founded in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is an international staffing franchisor of the Express Employment Professionals franchise and related brands.