An internship is an opportunity to gain work experience and knowledge. The job offers a range of learning opportunities and a chance to get valuable professional skills for the future.
does an unpaid internship count as employment
Yes, an unpaid internship counts as employment. Many employers want to hire someone who has experience in their field and one way to gain that experience is by doing an unpaid internship for a few months. Many people think that this does not count as “employment” because they are not being paid, but the Department of Labor (DOL) views this differently.
In fact, DOL regulations state that any work performed under the supervision of a supervisor must be considered “employment”. In other words, you are still working even if you aren’t being paid. Even though it’s unpaid and part-time (usually 20 hours per week), it’s still considered “work.”