Hiring of MBA graduates remains strong reports GMAC

KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 (Bernama) -- Eighty one per cent of companies planned to hire MBA graduates this year.

This is according to the findings from Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) 2018 Corporate Recruiters Survey, a world wide report which also indicated that MBA hiring remains strong.

GMAC recently released its 17th annual survey report which said that 52 per cent of the responding companies around the world also plan to increase MBA starting base salaries this year, a statement said.

Sangeet Chowfla, GMAC president and chief executive officer said they have tracked positive trends in hiring of MBA and business master's graduates over the past several years as the overall analysis shows MBA hiring is still strong.

MBA graduates continue to command a salary premium relative to direct-from-industry hires and bachelor's degree hires as the projected median base starting salary for recent MBA graduates in the United States in 2018 is US$105,000 (RM 421,575). (1US$ = RM 4.02)

The data shows a slight decline in projected hiring among US (85 per cent) and European (64 per cent) employers compared to 2017. The demand remains same for MBA talent in Asia Pacific with 90 per cent of responding employers plan to make MBA hires in 2018.

Additional findings from the survey includes graduates in data analytics are in high demand as 62 per cent of Asia Pacific employers demand to hire Master of Data Analytics graduates compared to employers in Europe and Latin America.

It is also reported that most employers plan to bring on MBA interns in 2018 as MBA internships are most prevalent in Asia Pacific and the United States. Internships continue to be an avenue to jobs for many business school graduates to obtain permanent positions.

GMAC - a non-profit association of leading graduate business schools -- and partners conducted the survey in February and March 2018. GMAC is based in the United States. More information at www.gmac.com.

-- BERNAMA