More than half of Australia's young jobseekers have participated in unpaid work experience, but it's a challenge for those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
That's the finding from a landmark study commissioned by the employment department into the practice of unpaid work experience.
More than half of the 3800 surveyed (58 per cent) aged 18-29 had participated in some form of internship in the past five years, and over a quarter of those aged 30-64.
But the time comes with costs:
* More than a quarter reduced their hours of paid work for work experience.
* One in five paid for their own insurance.
* Nearly one in four had to travel longer than an hour to get to their work experience placement.
"These costs are disproportionately borne by respondents from lower socio-economic backgrounds," the report found, arguing they are less likely to have participated in unpaid work experience in the past five years.
The research warns the gap in access to unpaid internships may widen if the common phenomenon continues and becomes a critical prerequisite for securing paid work.
"Consideration should be given to the kinds of policy responses which might redress unequal access to (unpaid work experience), such as scholarships or additional/top up income support," researchers said.
Two in five undertook the internship experience as part of higher education or vocational training.
Nearly one in 12 participated as a requirement for receiving Youth Allowance or the dole.
Most were satisfied with their experience - with a quarter of all placements leading to work - but those forced to work for benefits recorded the lowest satisfaction.
Researcher Andrew Stewart said it was perfectly ok to participate in unpaid work if part of an educational training program.
"But if you're not that's when we get into a grey area," Prof Stewart told ABC radio on Wednesday.
The findings come ahead of the Turnbull government's PaTH program starting in April, offering young jobseekers access to four to 12 week internships and a $200 fortnightly supplement.
The department said this program would particularly help disadvantaged young jobseekers.
"The PaTH internship program will have strong safeguards and protections in place for job seekers," a spokesperson told AAP.
The department said the research shows work experience helps those looking for a job gain valuable experience, preparing them to meet employers' expectations.
"The government's employment programs are continually being reviewed and assessed against new evidence," the spokesperson said.
Labor's workplace spokesmen Brendan O'Connor and Ed Husic again raised concerns about what they described as a rushed announcement and planning around PaTH, fearing it would leave young Australians open to exploitation.
The pair wants the government to guarantee interns will actually get a job and won't be used to displace the jobs of other workers.
