UL Careers Early Careers Employer Survey 2026

Salary The survey indicates that the average work placement salary has reached €27,971, reflecting the growing recognition of students’ contributions during extended placements. In many organisations, placement students are now involved in project work, operational activities and team-based initiatives, gaining meaningful exposure to professional practice. Onboarding for Placement Hires Employers were also asked about how placement students are typically onboarded at the beginning of their roles. The findings suggest that onboarding continues to take place predominantly on-site within the organisation. While hybrid working arrangements are now common across many sectors, employers appear to favour in-person onboarding for students entering the workplace for the first time. Early immersion in workplace culture, systems and team dynamics is seen as an important part of supporting students as they transition into professional environments. Summer Internships Summer internship programmes also remain an important element of early talent engagement strategies. Although participation fluctuates slightly year to year, internships provide organisations with a flexible way to engage with students over shorter periods while offering valuable industry insight and experience. Discipline Demand Demand for placement students remains strongest in engineering and technical disciplines, alongside a wide range of business-related areas including accountancy, finance, marketing and data analytics. At the same time, opportunities extend across a broad spectrum of disciplines, highlighting the increasingly diverse range of sectors engaging with student placement programmes. Year on Year Comparison Summer Internships Year on Year Comparison Work Placement

85% 83%

81%

60% 64%

56%

44%

40%

36%

19%

17%

15%

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

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