The findings are based on responses from 1,108 recruiters across 46 countries, collected between January and March 2025. In total, 64% of respondents hire for Global Fortune 100 or 500 companies.
Employer confidence in business school grads remains near-universal
Confidence in the value of graduate business education is almost unanimous among global employers, with 99% of recruiters expressing confidence in the ability of a business education to prepare graduates to succeed at work.
That trust is grounded in key attributes students acquire at business school. Communication skills, a versatile skillset, and strategic thinking continue to top the list of qualities that make MBA and business master’s graduates attractive hires for companies. Graduate readiness to handle tech disruption has almost doubled in perceived importance, rising from 27% in 2024 to 46% this year.
The share of recruiters who describe their confidence in business education as “high” has dipped slightly—down to 35% from 42% in 2024—but the overall consensus remains firm.
When it comes to Gen Z—the dominant generation among today’s grads—almost two-thirds (61%) of recruiters say they’re just as professional as earlier cohorts.
Traditional degrees also continue to outshine micro-credentials. In total, 62% of recruiters agree that MBA and master’s degree holders are more likely to outperform peers who hold only micro-credentials, suggesting that employers still value the depth and structure of formal business education.
Looking ahead, the hiring outlook is positive. More companies plan to increase recruitment of MBA and business master’s graduates in 2025, and US starting salaries are projected to rise slightly year on year.
AI adoption strengthens case for MBAs and business master’s degrees
Far from diminishing the value of business education, the rise of AI is making graduate-level skills more relevant.
Nearly two-thirds (63%) of global employers say the capabilities gained through an MBA or business master’s degree are even more important as businesses adopt new technologies.
Support for this view is especially strong in the Middle East and Central and South Asia, where 93% and 83% of employers, respectively, say business school skills have grown more important amid the rise of technologies such as AI and automation.
The US stands out as the only region where fewer than half of recruiters agree, with just 41% seeing greater relevance for graduate business skills in a tech-transformed workplace.
Employers are also placing growing emphasis on knowledge of AI tools, with 31% of recruiters citing AI skills as a hiring priority—up from 26% last year. By 2030, AI literacy is projected to become the single most in-demand skill, overtaking valuable attributes such as strategic thinking.
Even so, strategic thinking and problem-solving continue to top the list of most-valued skills among business school graduates today and are expected to remain crucial over the next five years.
Remote and hybrid work models increasing demand for business education skills
As remote and hybrid work environments become more common, employers are placing greater value on the skills developed through business education.
According to the report, 56% of global employers say MBA and business master’s skills have grown more important in flexible work settings—particularly in sectors such as energy and utilities. Employers in consulting, by contrast, were less likely to share this view.
Regional differences are significant. In Central and South Asia, 84% of recruiters agree that business school skills are more relevant in today’s workplace. At least two-thirds of employers in the Middle East, East and Southeast Asia, and Africa share this opinion. In the US, however, just 24% of recruiters say these skills have become more important in hybrid or remote contexts.
There is also growing recognition of online degrees. Globally, 55% of recruiters say they view online and in-person business degrees as equally valuable. Agreement is especially high in the Middle East (70%) and Africa (71%). In the US, only 28% of recruiters see them as equivalent, with 45% actively disagreeing.
Recruiters also remain highly aware of how a candidate has studied. According to the report, 90% of employers learn a candidate’s study format before their first day—typically during the application or interview process.
