Key findings:

Recruitment sectors:

• The survey reveals that a significant portion of employers recruit in consultancy (25 per cent), IT (23 per cent), banking/financial services (21 per cent), technology (21 per cent), and engineering (18 per cent).
• Less popular sectors include insurance (4 per cent), travel and tourism (3 per cent), gambling (2 per cent), and beauty and fitness (2 per cent).

General perceptions of business graduates:

• Employers express positive sentiments, with 81 per cent believing that business graduates can thrive in their organisations, and 83 per cent affirming their potential to become senior leaders.

Skills assessments:

• 82 per cent of employers believed that business graduates have the skills that meet the needs of their organisation, with 29 per cent of employers strongly agreeing. Employers also felt that the business graduates were good problem solvers, with 77 per cent either strongly or tending to agree with this statement.
• Notably, big data is considered the most proficiently handled technology, with 12 per cent believing graduates can use it very well.

Skills rating:

• Time management skills receive the highest praise, with 35 per cent rating them a nine or 10.
• Computer programming skills receive lower ratings, with 41 per cent giving a score of under five.

Skills gaps and future trends:

• The perceived major issue in the employment market currently is the lack of skills (39 per cent); the anticipated skills gap in the next decade centres around adaptability (44 per cent), resilience (42 per cent), and innovation (41 per cent).

Factors influencing future recruitment:

• Employers prioritise the type of programme completed (63 per cent), accreditation of the programme (62 per cent), and accreditation of the business school (58 per cent) in future graduate recruitment.
• Factors such as university ranking (37 per cent) and prestige (37 per cent) are considered less important.

Ellen Buchan, Insight, Content and PR Manager, AMBA & BGA, said, “In the interplay between business education and industry demands, employers have generally expressed a positive outlook on the skills and capabilities of business graduates.

“The survey shows that their strengths include problem solving, time management and leadership traits – proof of business schools’ ability to instil these crucial traits in their students.

“However, the employers did voice concern over a future skills gap.  Perhaps a solution to this could be more dialogue and alignment between business schools and industry to bridge these skills gaps, thereby ensuring that business graduates not only meet but exceed the expectations of today’s dynamic and competitive work landscape.”

Methodology

Between April and June 2023, AMBA & BGA conducted its most extensive online survey to date, reaching out to its diverse membership of 76,600 AMBA (Association of MBAs) and BGA (Business Graduates Association) student and graduate members across more than 150 countries. The survey received responses from a total of 1,120 students and graduates affiliated with AMBA & BGA institutions.

These students and graduates were asked: “Are you a decision maker in the recruitment of business graduates at the organisation in which you currently work?” and those who answered yes were classed as employers in this survey.

A total of 354 students and graduates also defined themselves as employers; these respondents will be what this survey focuses on.

Regarding the gender distribution of the students and graduates, 69 per cent of the participants were male, 30 per cent were female and one per cent preferred not to disclose their gender.

The students and graduates who participated in the survey represented an impressive 94 different countries. The United Kingdom constituted the largest proportion at 22 per cent, followed by South Africa with six per cent, the United States at four per cent and Germany at three per cent.

Please note that in cases where figures do not add up to 100 per cent, or combine to a whole number, this discrepancy is attributed to rounding.