As AI Reshapes Hiring, Internships Carry Higher Stakes for the Class of 2026-27

BOSTON — With more than 4 million US college students completing internships each year, career experts say the experience matters more than ever as AI reshapes entry-level hiring. NACE projects employers will hire about 4% more interns in 2026, though conversion into full-time offers remains uneven, with 70% of employers now using skills-based hiring.