A survey done by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), an international association of graduate business schools, found 55 percent of employers agreed that online MBAs were just as valuable as in-person MBAs, while 23 percent neither agreed nor disagreed and 21 percent disagreed.
Respondents were surveyed between January and March 2025 with 1,108 corporate recruits and hiring managers taking part around the world, including in the U.S., Canada, Asia, Europe and Latin America.
Trends In Hiring
Employers in the tech sector were most likely to agree that online and in-person degrees were of equal value and those in health care, pharmaceutical, finance, accounting and consulting sectors most likely to disagree.
Across the world, the majority of employers agreed that online MBAs were just as valuable, except in the U.S. where 28 percent agreed with such a statement, 27 percent neither agreed nor disagreed and 45 percent disagreed.
However in western Europe, 58 percent valued both types of degrees equally while 26 percent neither agreed nor disagreed.
In Canada, the percentages were 63 and and 23, respectively. All other regions agreed even more strongly that an online degree was just as valuable as one done in-person.
The survey also found a large majority of employers hired as many MBA graduates or more than expected last year and predict their hiring will stay steady or increase this year.
Among industries, 85 percent in technology said they would hire the same or more MBA graduates, as well as 77 percent of employers in consulting and 72 percent in finance and accounting.
A large majority of employers also said that external factors would influence hiring decisions, with inflation and fears of recession holding the greatest weight.
In central and south Asia, 95 percent of employers stated they were planning or willing to hire international candidates who needed additional legal documentation, followed closely by Africa, east and southeast Asia, eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East.
In western Europe, 85 percent of employers said the same, while in Canada the number was 69 percent and in the U.S., 39 percent.
This year’s MBA graduates in the US are expected to get higher starting salaries compared to last year.
The estimated median salary in 2024 was projected at $120,000 while in 2025 it is projected to be $125,000.
Skills Most Valued
The highest ranked skill which was valued was problem solving with 54 percent of respondents stating that it was one of the most important skills. That was followed by communication skills, strategic thinking, adaptability and initiative.
In terms of skills expected to be the most important in five years, AI skills led the way with 23 percent of respondents.
That was followed closely by strategic thinking. Tech/IT skills, problem solving and data analysis and interpretation also ranked high.
However, there was a difference among countries and regions.
In the U.S., the predicted most valued skill in five years was strategic thinking while in western Europe and east and southeast Asia, it was technology and IT skills. In central and south Asia, skills using AI tools were top ranked and in the Middle East, it was problem-solving.
The difference was also seen across industries.
Data analysis and interpretation were predicted to be the most valued skills in the future for respondents in the consulting world, while problem solving was first on the list for those in finance and accounting.
Strategic thinking was top-ranked in manufacturing, and the products and services industry.
Unsurprisingly, skills using AI came in first in the technology, health care and pharmaceutical industries.
Among employers who were focused on AI skills, developing business strategy and making decisions was the most important skill followed by acquiring knowledge and learning new business skills. There was also an increased interest in skills around using AI ethically.
For employers interested in technological skills, using cloud-based technology and data visualization came out as the most important.
There was also a vote in confidence for younger graduates.
“Despite sensational stories about Gen Z’s informal communication style or casual attitudes toward work, most employers say recent GME graduates are as “professional” as they were before with regard to reliability, respectfulness, accountability, or professional appearance—but with some concern among consulting employers,” GMAC’s report stated.
