For low-income students, it is vital that internships are paid, as these young people need a source of income to support themselves and their families, writes José Cruz Torres.
A young Kinesis program student is set to graduate in a year from the University of Notre Dame and dreams of returning to Puerto Rico. However, she has been offered a competitive paid internship working on economic development for marginalized communities at a business incubator in Indiana. She wanted to do something similar in Puerto Rico but has been unable to find a position that offers the same financial security. As a low-income student, she cannot afford an unpaid internship. Her parents cannot support her.
This opportunity will continue to open doors for the student in the United States, while Puerto Rico continues to lose highly skilled talent at an alarming rate. One of the many economic challenges we face is brain drain—the migration of highly skilled individuals like her. A study by the Youth Development Institute revealed that, unlike previous waves of migration, in the last two decades, 52% of those who left were professionals and people with university degrees.
Talented university students in Puerto Rico are seeking internship opportunities in the United States or are even being recruited. The appeal of these opportunities is understandable: they often offer higher salaries, exposure to larger markets, and the promise of a full-time job after graduation. However, this trend is detrimental to Puerto Rico’s long-term economic health, as it leads to the loss of young, ambitious people who could significantly contribute to the local economy.
Paid internships are a crucial tool for retaining talent. They provide students with practical experience, industry connections, and a pathway to potential job opportunities. More importantly, they offer a viable alternative to seeking similar opportunities abroad.
For low-income students, paid internships are essential because these young people need income to support themselves and their families. Furthermore, these students typically lack the social capital—the network of relationships and industry connections—that their wealthier peers have, which can facilitate finding a job after university.
At Fundación Kinesis, we seek similar opportunities for our talented university students, but unfortunately, the options are limited on the island. To compete with opportunities in the United States, Puerto Rico needs to invest in creating more paid internships that offer competitive compensation and growth opportunities. This could involve partnerships between non-profit organizations, the government, universities, and private companies to fund and establish these programs.
With concerted effort and investment, Puerto Rico can reverse the brain drain and build a brighter economic future for all of us, who will benefit from the contributions of young people like her to our beloved island.
