Dive Brief:

• Collegegrad.com released its list of the top intern employers for 2017. This year’s list includes direct links to more than 65,000 internships (and jobs that start out as internships) throughout the nation, demonstrating an average increase per employer of more than 7.3% over last year’s rates.
• Among the top companies where candidates can find internship programs are ORAU, EY, New York Life Insurance Company, PwC, and General Electric. ORAU hired 6982 of its employees via internships, nearly three times as many as GE.
• Students are encouraged to apply now for internships to increase their chances of getting hired by leading companies around the US. Internships have traditionally helped college students set themselves apart from other entry-level applicants by developing their skills in real-world career experiences. 

Dive Insight:

This year's list of companies offering internships for college students is impressive, with a large portion in the financial, marketing, and technology sectors. Collegegrad.com has provided a valuable resource not only for students seeking internships, but also companies trying to attract a fresh crop of eager young minds ready for their next step.

There are a growing number of millennials and Gen Z candidates who are opting for fast-tracks to careers via internships, apprenticeships, and other forms of on-the-job learning. But, employers are somewhat slow to respond to this need, with many lagging behind in internship and other workforce learning programs.

Innovators like GE and EY are currently leading the way in revealing the actual recruiting impact of internships and how they can help even legacy companies create sustainable talent pipelines. Thanks to an aging workforce, attracting young talent is more important than ever.