Back in 2011, 40% of interns worked without pay, and in the arts and culture sector, the share of "unpaid" interns was two-thirds. The rest earned an average of 551 euros per month. As Deutsche Welle reports, these figures were published by the German Trade Union Federation (DGB).
However, since 2015, when the minimum wage law was introduced, the situation has changed. The minimum wage in Germany has been 8.84 euros per hour since January 1, 2017 (previously 8.50). Interns' pay is also regulated by this law. The exception is mandatory internships. A student who works during their studies on an internship lasting more than three months can expect the minimum wage.
According to a study by the consulting firm Clevis, 88% of surveyed interns are satisfied with their employment relationship with the employer. Only three percent do not receive a salary during their internship. The study surveyed 5,500 interns and was conducted jointly with the job exchange Absolventa and the University of Magdeburg.
The gender pay gap, which generally characterizes the German labor market, is also evident in interns' pay. On average, women receive 20 euros less during mandatory internships, and the salary difference during voluntary internships is even greater – 50 euros.
Experts explain this difference by the fact that women most often take internships in sectors where wage levels are initially lower. According to the study, the highest-paying internships are offered by consulting and law firms, banks, insurance and financial companies, as well as the consumer goods sector. Here, interns earn more than 1,200 euros. Students receive just over a thousand euros in the pharmaceutical, chemical, telecommunications, industrial, and construction sectors. Less than 1,000 euros are paid by the media, energy sector, and mechanical engineering. The minimum level of interns' pay, according to Clevis, is in science and research.
On average, an internship during studies in Germany lasts five months. According to the Clevis study, 85% of employers maintain close contact with their former interns, allowing them to attract talented staff in a timely manner. As for the interns themselves, they have become even more mobile in recent years. About half of those surveyed change their place of residence for an internship, and 12% go abroad.
Despite the positive changes in the labor market, the German Trade Union Federation (DGB) has expressed doubts about the improvement of interns' pay conditions. Its representatives believe that since more than 73% of all internships take place during studies, employers have many opportunities to circumvent the minimum wage law.