Trainees’ rights in the EU

Trainees in the EU

There are currently over three million trainees in the EU, and this number is expected to rise by 16% by 2030.

A traineeship is a temporary period of work experience that provides people with learning and skills development, enabling them to gain practical and professional experience. 

On 19 June 2025, the Council agreed its position on new rules designed to enhance working conditions for trainees, ensuring they are not treated less favourably than comparable employees and preventing employers from disguising employment relationships as so-called ‘false’ traineeships.

• Combatting ‘false’ traineeships: Council agrees its position (press release, 19 June 2025)

Once the European Parliament has also decided on its position, negotiations will take place between the Council and the Parliament to agree on the final version of the new directive.

In 2019, almost half of the 3.1 million trainees in the EU were unpaid. A European Commission study suggests that it is likely that the number of trainees - especially unpaid ones - is underestimated.

The Council will issue guidelines on traineeships, with a focus on:

• fair remuneration 
• social protection
• equal access for vulnerable groups 

8 in 10 young Europeans have done at least one traineeship

A 2023 Eurobarometer survey of more than 26 000 people aged 18 to 34 revealed that 78% had completed at least one traineeship. Of these, 21% did so in another EU country, a significant rise from 9% in 2013.

Additionally, 76% of survey participants said they gained useful professional skills during their traineeship. Following this experience, 68% found a job, with 39% securing a fixed or permanent contract with the same employer and 26% with a different one.

Germany leads with 90% traineeship participation; Sweden has the lowest at 53%

This graph displays the percentage of individuals in various EU countries who have completed traineeships.

1 in 10 traineeships lasts longer than six months

In some cases, traineeships may be used to fill regular positions, meaning that trainees have the same tasks and responsibilities as an employee without benefiting from the same pay or job security.

When multiple traineeships take place with the same employer, trainees risk being used as disguised employees. One of the goals of the new law is to prevent this from happening.

Hungary has the highest rate of multiple traineeships with the same employer, at 50%

This table provides information on Europeans who have undertaken multiple traineeships with the same employer. 

Almost 1 in 2 trainees in the EU are not paid

Among those who completed at least one traineeship, 55% received remuneration, compared to 40% in 2013. 

Croatia has the highest paid traineeship rate at 78%; Belgium the lowest at 39%

This table provides data on whether traineeships were remunerated across various EU countries. 

Social protection

In the EU, 1 in 4 trainees has no access to social protection. More specifically, 61% reported that they had full or partial access to social protection during their traineeship, while 27% had no access at all. 

69% of respondents stated that their working conditions during their last traineeship - equipment, working hours and treatment - were equivalent to those of regular employees.

Austria had the highest access to social protection at 49%; Belgium and Cyprus the lowest at 24%

This table presents data on access to social protection for trainees during their traineeships in Europe.

Access to traineeships is unequal

According to the European Commission, unequal access - particularly to high-quality and cross-border opportunities - is a challenge for vulnerable groups, especially when traineeships are unpaid. 

40% of the Eurobarometer respondents believe young people with a migrant background, those from disadvantaged socioeconomic groups and people with disabilities face barriers to accessing traineeships.

The survey also found that among those who had not completed a traineeship, 18% could not find one, 16% were uninformed, and 10% lacked financial resources to participate.

10% of those who have not done a traineeship lack financial resources

This chart illustrates the reasons why individuals across the EU did not participate in a traineeship.