Employers keen on hiring B-School graduates as AI integration accelerates: Report
Despite ongoing global economic uncertainties — including inflation, recession fears, and political volatility — employers maintain a strong hiring outlook for recent graduates from business schools. The survey, which gathered insights from 1,108 corporate recruiters and hiring managers across 46 countries, shows that AI literacy is now among the most highly valued skills, expected to be even more critical in the next five years.
'As AI becomes more integral in a company's decision-making and strategy development, employers continue to turn to business school graduates for their versatility and strategic thinking, along with growing appreciation for their ability to innovate and navigate the challenges and opportunities of technological disruption,' said Joy Jones, CEO of GMAC.
A staggering 99 per cent of global employers express confidence in business schools' ability to prepare graduates for success. Nearly two-thirds say the skills acquired through a graduate business degree are more vital than ever in the tech-driven economy.
While AI proficiency is climbing in importance, human-centric skills remain foundational. Over half of employers prioritise communication skills, emotional intelligence, and adaptability in hiring decisions.
As remote and hybrid work become entrenched in corporate culture, 56 per cent of employers say business school graduates are better prepared for these environments. Online and hybrid degree programmes are gaining legitimacy, with 55 per cent of employers valuing them equally to traditional in-person formats.
61 per cent of recruiters believe Gen Z business graduates display the same level of professionalism as prior cohorts. However, skepticism lingers in client-facing industries like consulting and healthcare, where around 25 per cent express concerns.
Generalist business degrees, especially MBAs, continue to dominate hiring forecasts. About 76 per cent of employers expect to hire the same or more MBA graduates in 2025 compared to this year, with 90 per cent planning to onboard MBA talent — outpacing hires with only bachelor's degrees or prior work experience.
Christine Murray, associate dean and managing director of McDonough Career Center at Georgetown University, notes, 'As flexibility in work and learning becomes a norm, business school graduates — with degrees or credentials earned in-person or remotely — should feel empowered that their employability continues to outperform those without an advanced management degree.'
With more than two decades of data, GMAC's Corporate Recruiters Survey remains a benchmark for tracking trends in business graduate employability, compensation, and skill demand. This year's findings reaffirm the growing synergy between AI fluency and human-centric capabilities, making business school graduates uniquely positioned to lead in a rapidly evolving corporate world.
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