Employers Still Eager To Hire MBAs, GMAC Finds — Especially Those With AI Skills
As fears of recession, inflation, and global uncertainty grow, employers are sending a clear message to business school graduates: you’re still in demand — especially if you can harness AI.
That’s the takeaway from the Graduate Management Admission Council’s 2025 Corporate Recruiters Survey, released today (July 1): Employers across sectors and regions continue to place high value on graduate business degrees, particularly the MBA — but while problem-solving and strategic thinking are still cited as top skills in the workforce, familiarity with AI tools now ranks as the single most important skill for the future.
“As AI becomes more integral in a company’s decision-making and strategy development,” GMAC CEO Joy Jones says, “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.”
Employers Still Eager To Hire MBAs, GMAC Finds — Especially Those With AI Skills
Source: GMAC
GMAC’s 2025 report is based on the responses of 1,108 corporate recruiters and hiring managers from staffing firms in 46 countries, 64% of which are Fortune 500 companies. Responses were collected between January and March 2025 with the help of GMAC’s survey partners European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) and Career Services and Employer Alliance (CSEA).
The results show continued hiring momentum from last year’s survey, which itself showed a rebound in MBA hiring intentions after a cautious period in the wake of coronavirus-sparked global macroeconomic instability. In 2024, 92% of corporate recruiters said they planned to hire MBA graduates — up from 86% the year prior — and this year’s data signals that demand has not only held steady but sharpened in focus.
Now, employers are seeking not just business acumen but AI fluency, as artificial intelligence reshapes functions from operations to marketing and strategic planning. In fact, knowledge of AI tools saw one of the steepest year-over-year gains in perceived importance — topping the list of skills employers say they’ll value most five years from now.
Employers Still Eager To Hire MBAs, GMAC Finds — Especially Those With AI Skills
Source: GMAC
GMAC CEO Joy Jones
Joy Jones, CEO of the Graduate Management Admission Council: “Business schools’ intentional cultivation of relevant skills in their students helps them stand out as valuable contributors and future leaders in the ever-evolving business world”
GMAC’s data show that while demand for AI and technology skills continues to grow, employers are not simply looking for coders or tool users — they want strategic thinkers who can apply these technologies to real business problems. Among global recruiters who indicated that AI knowledge is important in hiring graduate business talent, the majority say they value candidates who can leverage AI tools for business strategy and decision-making, not just those who can operate the tools.
In fact, there’s a slight uptick in interest in ethical AI usage compared to last year, suggesting that business leaders are becoming more attuned to the societal and organizational implications of deploying AI systems. The ability to use generative AI responsibly and transparently is beginning to show up alongside more traditional tech skills.
Among recruiters who prioritized technology skills in general, cloud-based platforms like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform ranked highest, while data visualization and statistical analysis tools — such as SAS, SPSS, or Stata — also earned strong support. This reflects a broader expectation: GME graduates should not only be comfortable with modern enterprise systems but also capable of interpreting data and turning it into actionable insights.
Yet even as AI and tech fluency rise in importance, communication remains king. Among the 51% of employers who said communication skills are critical when hiring GME graduates, verbal communication skills topped the list. Presentation and conflict resolution abilities followed closely, while video conferencing skills — heavily emphasized during the pandemic — have declined in perceived value.
Employers Still Eager To Hire MBAs, GMAC Finds — Especially Those With AI Skills
Source: GMAC
Nearly 99% of global employers say they are confident in B-schools’ ability to prepare graduates for success in their organizations. And close to two-thirds believe that business education is more important than ever, especially as companies adopt emerging technologies at scale.
“Business schools’ intentional cultivation of relevant skills in their students helps them stand out as valuable contributors and future leaders in the ever-evolving business world,” Joy Jones says.
Christine Murray, associate dean at Georgetown McDonough, echoes Jones’ sentiment: “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 can underscore how they are skilled in strategic thinking, problem-solving, and communications alongside technological savvy.”
Employers Still Eager To Hire MBAs, GMAC Finds — Especially Those With AI Skills
Source: GMAC
MBA hiring continues to be a priority. Three of four global employers plan to hire the same or more MBAs in 2025 compared to 2024, and 90% report plans to hire candidates with MBA degrees — surpassing both bachelor’s graduates and external hires.
This closely mirrors the hiring optimism reported in 2024, when more than 9 in 10 recruiters anticipated strong MBA demand.
Together, the last two surveys point to a post-pandemic stabilization of the MBA hiring market, now more influenced by emerging skills — especially in AI — than by Covid-era volatility.
Employers Still Eager To Hire MBAs, GMAC Finds — Especially Those With AI Skills
Source: GMAC
The report also offers insight into how employers perceive today’s newest graduate business hires — the so-called Generation Z.
About 61% of recruiters say Gen Z MBAs demonstrate the same level of professionalism as previous generations, suggesting that many employers are broadly satisfied with the workplace readiness of recent graduates. However, that still leaves a sizable minority with reservations.
Recruiters in consulting and healthcare/pharmaceutical sectors, where interpersonal communication and client-facing skills are critical, were more likely to express concerns. Some flagged issues related to professional appearance, reliability, and respectfulness, indicating that while Gen Z grads bring strong technical and analytical skills, they may need additional support or coaching when stepping into high-stakes external-facing roles.
Employers Still Eager To Hire MBAs, GMAC Finds — Especially Those With AI Skills
Source: GMAC
The technology sector continues to lead the way in embracing flexible work models and evolving educational formats. More than half (55%) of tech employers report that the skills gained through a business degree are even more valuable when applied in hybrid or remote work environments where self-direction, digital collaboration, and cross-functional agility are essential.
In addition, 57% of tech recruiters say they place equal value on graduates of online or hybrid programs compared to those who completed their studies fully in person. This marks a notable shift in employer perceptions, signaling growing acceptance of nontraditional learning pathways — particularly in sectors where digital fluency and performance often matter more than physical presence.
Overall, “The 2025 Corporate Recruiters Survey reaffirms employers’ trust in management education’s ability to develop leaders who can navigate complexity and drive innovation,” Joy Jones writes in the introduction to the 2025 report. “As AI reshapes work and hybrid workplaces become more common, this confidence reflects graduates’ ability to adapt and lead through uncertainty, signaling that business schools remain essential partners in developing the skillsets and mindsets organizations need. With this strong foundation of trust, employers, business schools, and their graduates can thrive through the transformational changes ahead.”
