How Unpaid Internships Widen the Wealth Gap

Lucas and Luna unpack how unpaid internships act as a hidden filter that excludes low-income students from the most competitive careers. They examine the 2025 NACE data showing only 43 percent of internships are paid, and how the average unpaid intern costs $6,800 in foregone wages and living expenses over a summer. The hosts connect this to the broader wealth gap, showing how students who can afford to work for free gain a massive resume advantage while those who cannot fall further behind. A concrete look at one policy lever — the proposed federal intern minimum wage — and why it remains stalled. #UnpaidInternships #WealthGap #EconomicMobility #InternEquity #NACE #CareerInequality #CollegeCosts #ClassCeiling #EntryLevelJobs #SocialMobility #PayEquity #LaborMarket #InternMinimumWage #EconomicJustice #GenerationWealth #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Economics Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo