Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - In its study, the staffing company ANCOR reveals the latest trends in the internship market in Uzbekistan.

A study of the internship market in Uzbekistan conducted by ANCOR in August-September revealed that in 2023, 77% of companies have internship programs.

Of these, 52% of organizations launched work with interns this year. The main reason for the lack of such a direction, according to respondents, is the difficulty of attracting interns, budget limitations, and lack of resources for training young specialists “from scratch.” As for the goals of companies, 77% of respondents see working with new personnel as an opportunity to “grow” a specialist to suit their needs, 62% attract newcomers to perform routine work. The distribution by functional industries is as follows: 54% of interns are attracted to marketing, 47% to HR, 31% to IT and 25% to finance. Regarding payment and provision of additional options, 54% of companies offer a monthly salary in the amount of 1.5 to 3 million soums, and 62% agree on a flexible work schedule.

But what is important for the trainees themselves? What factors influence them when choosing a company? In first place is the financial stability of the employer (62%), followed by flexible work schedules (56%).

To find an employer, young workers most often use Telegram (53%) and Instagram (31%). Among the various areas of activity, the greatest interest among respondents was caused by services for business (56%), information technology and telecommunications (47%).

“Nowadays, young professionals and trainees represent not only the future of the company, but also a key resource for its ongoing success. Market and consumer demands are changing, and companies must flexibly respond and adapt to these changes. Young professionals bring fresh ideas, innovations and new approaches to organizations, which helps companies remain competitive,” Oksana Tkachenko, operations manager at ANCOR.

General situation on the internship market

The ANCOR online survey took place in August-September. The study involved 85 HR service managers and 275 novice trainees.

According to the data received, 77% of employers in Uzbekistan have internship programs: 52% of them launched this area only this year, and 48% attracted interns until 2023. The main reason for introducing this practice, as stated above, is the difficulty in attracting interns. Budget restrictions and lack of resources for training newcomers also play a role.

Why do companies hire interns?

77% of those surveyed responded that this is how they “grow” specialists to suit their needs. 62% solve the issue of routine work that does not require special skills, and 38% increase employer brand awareness among young people. 32% of respondents see opportunities for budget savings, and only 15% use youth to take a fresh look at established processes in the company.

What functions do companies hire interns for?

The study showed that 54% of interns come to the marketing department, 47% to HR, 31% to IT, 25% to finance, 19% to sales, 16% to legal, 15% to R&D, 12% - administrative personnel, 10% - e-commerce, 8% - purchasing.

“One of the main reasons why companies are actively recruiting interns into marketing and HR is because of the dynamism of these fields. "Great value is placed on soft skills, such as creativity, teamwork, etc. These areas are constantly changing, and, as a rule, young professionals adapt more easily to new communication technologies and social practices, which makes them suitable candidates for these positions," - Oksana Tkachenko, operations manager at ANCOR.

What are companies willing to offer to interns?

46% of companies conduct internships lasting from 3 to 6 months, 31% consider programs up to 3 months optimal. Only 15% offer internships from 6 to 12 months and 8% from a year or longer.

54% of employers provide monthly wages in the amount of 1.5 to 3 million soums, 35% are ready to discuss remuneration in the amount of 3 to 6 million soums. 26% of organizations - from 500 thousand to 1.5 million soums, and in 21% of companies the internship payment amount is up to 500 thousand soums per month.

Companies also actively use non-financial motivation: 62% of respondents offer a flexible work schedule, 25% - full or partial reimbursement of transportation costs, 23% - compensation for mobile communications, 17% - bonuses and discounts from partner companies, 15% - the opportunity to work remotely, 9 % - additional leave and for 6% the social package includes support for sports and leisure activities.

What do novice specialists themselves think?

What areas of activity most attract young workers? The greatest interest is in services for business (56%), information technology and telecommunications (47%), as well as the field of media and media companies (43%). They are followed by education (40%), financial services (27%), e-commerce (20%), hospitality (18%) and public sector with NGOs (17%). Also in demand are the auto business (16%), transport and logistics, including freight and passenger transportation (15%), construction and real estate (13%), services for the population (11%), and retail trade (10%). The list is completed by medicine and pharmaceuticals (5%), mining and processing (4%), agro-industrial complex (3%), mechanical engineering (2%) and consumer goods (1%).

How do job seekers find internships?

The most popular source for searching for internship programs is social networks and messenger channels (58%). Of these: 53% - Telegram, 31% - Instagram, 24% - Linkedin and only 4% - Facebook.

Job search sites are used by 38% of respondents: Headhunter - 33%, Ishkop - 7%, Olx - 6%. 33% of respondents find companies through university career centers, 16% on the advice of friends and relatives and 7% at events of various companies.

What factors influence the choice of internship location?

The main factor when choosing an organization for an internship is its financial stability - 62%, a flexible schedule is important for 56%, a convenient location was noted by 51%, the company's reputation is important for 49%. 44% pay attention to the international presence of the company, 41% named strong management, and reimbursement of transportation costs is important for 36%.

The level of remuneration is critical for 32%, bonuses for achieving indicators - 31%, paid additional training - 30%. Opportunity to work.