Employers retain confidence in MBA graduates despite AI concerns, GMAC survey finds

Artificial intelligence is fast revolutionising workplaces in different sectors; however, what employers anticipate in future employees is far more than just knowledge of AI. According to the most recent Corporate Recruiters Survey by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), firms want MBAs who not only have knowledge of artificial intelligence but are also excellent communicators and problem-solvers.This survey has been conducted among over 600 corporate recruiters from 39 countries, and the result revealed that technology, AI, and data analysis have become more important during the last year. Nevertheless, employers still emphasize the importance of human qualities, which cannot be substituted with technological ones.Most of the recruiters who participated in the survey work for Global Fortune 500 companies, offering a broad perspective on the changing expectations of employers worldwide.Human skills continue to drive hiring decisionsEven as employers recognize that AI is now increasingly becoming an integral part of modern business, they hold that communication abilities, problem solving and adaptability continue to be the best predictors of success in the workplace.The report notes that in the coming five years, skills in using AI technology and strategic thinking will be among the top skills for business graduates. Instead of displacing workers, AI technology will undertake mundane tasks so that employees can concentrate on decision making, innovating and leadership.From Graduate Management Admission Council's report, employers are looking for graduates who have been taught to use AI technology together with characteristics like good judgment, teamwork and people management.Skill gaps among graduatesIn the survey, it was established that the majority of employers think that graduates are well-prepared enough to enter the world of work in modern society. Nonetheless, there were identified some skills which are missing among recent graduates according to recruitment specialists.Some of the most significant deficiencies include AI skills, emotional intelligence, resilience, grit, and human capital management. Employers also said that modern graduates lack professionalism when compared to their predecessors.Commenting on the findings, Joy Jones said the professionals who will succeed in the future are those who treat emerging technology as a tool to enhance their work rather than as a threat. She added that employers are increasingly seeking graduates who can combine technological expertise with communication, resilience, leadership and good judgment.Business schools retain employer confidenceDespite evolving workplace demands, employer confidence in business education remains strong. Every recruiter surveyed said they have some level of confidence in graduate management education and believe business school graduates bring value to their organisations.The report also highlights changing international hiring trends. Employers in Europe and Asia are becoming increasingly open to recruiting internationally mobile talent, while employer sponsorship in the United States has declined in recent years. At the same time, nearly one-third of U.S. employers plan to hire international professionals for positions based outside the country, suggesting that global career opportunities continue to expand.The survey reinforces a message that has become increasingly relevant in the AI era: technical skills may help candidates enter the job market, but communication, leadership, critical thinking and the ability to work effectively with people remain the qualities employers value the most.

Employers worldwide remain confident in MBA and business graduate degrees despite AI's growing role in workplaces, says a GMAC report.

Across industries, more than half of employers agreed or strongly agreed that a graduate business degree is more important than ever as businesses adopt new technologies

Employers across the globe continue to have confidence in MBA degrees amid concerns whether artificial intelligence (AI) would make business school graduates redundant, according to a new report by Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). The report is based on an annual survey of global corporate recruiters by GMAC, known for conducting the GMAT exam and an umbrella body of leading business schools from across the globe. Across industries, more than half of employers agreed or strongly agreed that a graduate business degree is more important than ever as businesses adopt new technologies. However, one area of common concern being flagged by employers, which has grown harder to ignore, is professionalism. The survey drew responses from 621 recruiters and hiring managers across 39 countries, just over half of them at Global Fortune 500 companies, among the world's largest by revenue. Everyone reported at least some confidence in graduate management education, the umbrella term

New Delhi: Employers across the globe continue to have confidence in MBA degrees amid concerns whether artificial intelligence (AI) would make business school graduates redundant, according to a new report by Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC).The report is based on an annual survey of global corporate recruiters by GMAC, known for conducting the GMAT exam and an umbrella body of leading business schools from across the globe.Across industries, more than half of employers agreed or strongly agreed that a graduate business degree is more important than ever as businesses adopt new technologies. However, one area of common concern being flagged by employers, which has grown harder to ignore, is professionalism.The survey drew responses from 621 recruiters and hiring managers across 39 countries, just over half of them at Global Fortune 500 companies, among the world's largest by revenue.Everyone reported at least some confidence in graduate management education, the umbrella term for MBA and the shorter, more specialised business master's degrees in fields such as finance, management and data analytics."In 2025, 99 per cent of employers expressed at least some degree of confidence in GME's ability to prepare graduates to be successful in their organisations. In 2026, not one respondent indicated they have no confidence, revealing the enduring value that employers believe GME provides to industry," the report said.When asked why they are confident in GME graduates, employers were found much more likely to cite the ability to handle the complex global business environment."In fact, this grew from the seventh to the most common reason employers selected, with nearly three-quarters of respondents appreciating GME graduates' capacity to thrive amid global complexity in 2026. The sizeable year-over-year growth was true regardless of an employer's region or industry."Though the capability to handle complex global environments was the only statistically significant change, there were some small declines in confidence attributed to several of the core business school skills discussed previously, such as communication and strategic thinking skills," it said.The report cited employers' opinion that in an era when AI can generate content, analyse data, and automate routine tasks, the distinctly human capabilities of communication, adaptability, and emotional intelligence have become harder to replicate-and, therefore, more valuable."For business schools, the most pressing implication is not simply that programs should teach AI skills (though that gap is real and growing). It is that schools must prepare graduates to operate with confidence at the intersection of technological fluency and human judgment," it said."More than half of global employers agreed that the skills gained through a business degree are more important than before for businesses that are now using remote or hybrid work, particularly in the technology, manufacturing, and healthcare and pharmaceutical industries," it added.Even as employer confidence in GME remains strong overall, one area of concern has grown harder to ignore - professionalism."Employers were asked whether today's GME graduates demonstrate the same level of professionalism (defined in the survey as reliability, respectfulness, accountability and professional appearance) as graduates from previous years, and the results point to a meaningful shift in perception. Among all respondents, there was a statistically significant decline in the number of employers who thought today's GME graduates demonstrated the same level of professionalism as graduates from previous years," the report said."Though the year-over-year differences by industry and region are within the margin of error, the decline was seen across sectors (excluding products and services), with technology employers still the most satisfied with today's graduates - workplace etiquette and consulting and manufacturing employers the least satisfied," it added.