International MBA: 68% of Western Europe companies have employed international graduates in 2023

Founded in 1953, the GMAC is a non-profit international organisation providing information and research for higher education in the management sector. The council provides business schools and employers from all over the world with data and information to “help them understand the current trends in terms of skills, employment, wage and perception of graduates in MBA and business Master degree”.

True attractiveness for International MBA graduates

The 2024 report from the GMAC entitled “Corporate Recruiters Survey” collected information from 1,000 recruiters in companies and recruitment agencies in 30 different countries. The report analysed the recruitment plans of companies regarding graduates in business schools in various sectors such as industry, technology, finance and counsel.

And recruiters view basic skills acquired in business schools, such as “solving issues, communication and strategic thinking” as critical.  In line with this, the study points out that many European employers have decided to increase their employment of MBA graduates, with a third having recruited more MBA graduates in 2023 than in 2022. Prospects for 2024 show that in average, 39% of global employers declared they plan to recruit international talents, and 41% are open to the idea. Above this average, 47% of companies in Western Europe plan to recruit internationally in 2024. At longer term, the study reveals that 58% of recruiters in Western Europe plan to recruit more MBA graduates over the next five years, while only 3% of employers plan to reduce their recruitment of graduates.

Valued skills

International MBA graduates are thus recruited on their “basic skills”. The survey identified which skills were the most valued, depending on professional sectors:

• for “employers focused on tech”: mastering could-based technology, statistical analysis and data visualisation;
• for “employers focused on communication”: oral communication, skills in presentation and active listening;
• for consulting firms: solving issues and communication;
• for companies in the tech industry: specific skills in relation with technology and strategic decision-making.

The report also explains that over the five next years, “employers predict the continued importance of strategy and resolution of issues, with a growing importance in tech, innovation and global business. In this regard, business schools seem to be on the right way to provide their graduates with skills appropriate for the future.”

Growing trust of employers

The report also highlights a “growing trust” from employers in advanced management training. According to employers, “international MBA graduates are better than other employees, quickly access higher positions and earn higher salaries”.

Two third of employers think that “comprehensive degrees” in business are more efficient for success than “micro-certificates”. In addition, American employers are gradually interested, with “Western Europe employers tend to be more interested in comprehensive degrees”.

In short, says the report, “by trying to align the efforts of business schools with demands from the industry, institutions are able to position themselves as leaders in the preparation of the next generation of professionals in business to excel in a global context that is gradually more complex”.