Marc Ethier
6 min read
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.”
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.
Source: GMAC
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.
