Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) has officially published the results from its latest survey, which revealed that, despite employers reporting inflation and recession fears, recent business school graduates can remain optimistic regarding their career prospects,
Going by the available details, this particular demand of new graduates is largely driven by their familiarity with AI, as well as by their problem-solving and strategic thinking you would generally expect from today’s generation.
“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 at GMAC. “I give kudos to business schools’ intentional cultivation of these relevant skills in their students, who stand out even more as valuable contributors and future leaders in the ever-evolving business world.”
As for the results, they reveal a rather positive employer perception in regards to business education. We say so because a staggering 99% of global employers express confidence in business schools’ ability to prepare graduates for success within their organizations. On top of it, nearly two-thirds go on to claim that the skills gained through a graduate business degree are more critical than ever, as companies increasingly adopt emerging tech.
Next up, the survey uncovered a growing need for human skills. This translates to how more than half the global employers cite the value of communication skills in their hiring decisions. In fact, employers also value candidates’ emotional intelligence and adaptability in their current and future hiring decisions.
Another detail worth a mention relates to burgeoning employer confidence when it comes to increasing flexibility in work and study. You see, 56% of global employers agree or strongly agree that the skills gained through a business degree are more important for businesses using remote or hybrid working arrangements.
Alongside that, nearly the same percentage (55%) also agreed or strongly agreed that they value graduates of online or predominantly online and in-person programs equally.
Hold on, we still have a couple of bits left to unpack, considering we haven’t yet touched upon the fact that a contingent of 61% of corporate recruiters find recent GME graduates to demonstrate the same level of professionalism, such as reliability, respectfulness, or professional appearance, as graduates from previous years.
Having said so, though, roughly a quarter of the more client-facing consulting and health care/pharmaceutical recruiters disagree with the same.
Rounding up highlights would be a group of 76% of global employers who are prepared to hire about the same or more newly minted MBA graduates in 2025 compared to 2024. To be specific, 90% of them plan to hire talent with an MBA – even more than prospective employees with bachelor’s degrees or those coming directly from other organizations.
Founded in 1954, Graduate Management Admission Council’s rise up the ranks stems from delivering world-class research, industry conferences, recruiting tools, and assessments, while simultaneously bringing forth resources, events, and services that help guide candidates through their higher education journey.
The organization’s excellence in what it does can also be understood once you consider it is currently trusted by more than 13 million prospective students for learning about MBA and other business master’s programs, connecting with schools around the world, preparing and registering for exams, as well as availing advice on successfully applying to MBA and other business master’s programs.
“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, especially when they understand and underscore how they are skilled in strategic thinking, problem-solving, and communications alongside technological savvy,” said Christine Murray, associate dean & managing director of McDonough Career Center at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business
