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JOBS& SALARYTRENDS REPORT 2016/17
QS TopMBA.com
J&S_2016_Cover copy.pdf 1 13/12/2016 13:40
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2 Introduction and Methodology
Since 1990, the QS Intelligence Unit, in
collaboration with TopMBA.com, has con-
ducted an annual survey of MBA employers
worldwide to determine trends in interna-
tional salaries and recruitment. QS is proud
to produce the longest-established, geo-
graphically-broadest and most-comprehen-
sive global review of MBA jobs and salary
trends. The survey is targeted at those with
responsibility for MBA recruiting in their
respective companies. We ask them to tell
us about current and future levels of hiring
and remuneration, and use this to map out
global, regional and industry trends.
The latest edition of the QS Employer Sur-
vey is as extensive as ever and presents
an unrivalled overview of the world MBA
recruitment market. For the purposes of this
report, responses were received from 4,093
companies in 102 countries.
Nunzio Quacquarelli
Nunzio is the founder and managing direc-
tor of QS Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd, pub-
lishers of TopMBA.com and organizers of the
QS World MBA Tour. He holds an MA from
the University of Cambridge and an MBA
from the Wharton School.
Tim Dhoul
Tim, the report’s editor and coauthor, is the
editor of TopMBA.com. He is a higher and
business education specialist with a back-
ground in consumer journalism and charity
communications. He holds degrees in his-
tory (BA) and Latin American studies (MA).
Benjamin Clayton
Benjamin, coauthor of the report, is an ana-
lyst with the QS Intelligence Unit, where he
focuses on business schools, MBAs, and the
development of the English language as a
method of instruction. He holds a BA in pol-
itics, sociology and international relations
from the University of Cambridge.
Contributors
3
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Contents
Introduction and Methodology 2
Contents 3
Headlines 4
Why do Employers Hire MBAs? 6 …andwhatcanemployersoffergraduatesofthedegree? 7
1. Global Overview: MBA Jobs & Salary Trends 8 1.1 Changes in MBA demand around the world 8 1.2 Changes in MBA salary levels around the world 11
2. Industry Insights 14 2.1 Changes in MBA demand by industry 14 2.2 MBA salaries by industry 16
3. MBA Jobs & Salaries: In-Depth Analysis 18 3.1 US & Canada 18 3.2 Western Europe 20 3.3 Eastern Europe 22 3.4Asia-Pacific 24 3.5 Latin America 26 3.6TheMiddleEast&Africa 28
4. Long-Term Trends in MBA Jobs 30
5. What Employers Want 32 5.1 The MBA skillset 32 5.2ChallengesfacedbyemployerswhenhiringMBAs 33 5.3Yearsofworkexperiencesought 34 5.4FunctionalrolesofferedtoMBAs 35
6.EmployerRespondentProfiles 36
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4
Worldwide
ð 13% growth in MBA jobs globally, ahead
of expectations and not far off the long-
term average of 15% seen since 1990.
ð The US, India and Brazil remain the world’s
three biggest markets for MBA jobs.
ð Finance remains the largest
single area of hiring.
ð Consulting and technology see
the greatest growth in MBA
demand across 2015/16.
ð Technology has been the most consist-
ent area of hiring, in terms of year-on-
year growth, over the past three years.
ð MBA salary levels are on the rise in
the world’s younger regional markets
for MBA jobs, with the biggest boost
seen in Latin America.
ð Australia leads the US & Canada
for the highest-reported salaries
on offer to graduates.
US & Canada
ð Last year’s surge in hiring is backed up
by a further 16% rise in opportunities.
ð Overall salary levels remain
consistent and comfortably
above the US$100k-mark.
Western Europe
ð Growth of 4% is better than was antici-
pated last year but remains a reflection
of the region’s ongoing concerns.
ð Overall salaries remain over the US$100k
threshold despite a fall this year.
Eastern Europe
ð Healthy progress signalled by 9%
expansion in new MBA opportunities.
ð A good year for Russia, lead-
ing the region’s growth after its
poor showing last year.
Headlines
5
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Asia-Pacific
ð Surpasses expectations once again
with a 17% increase in MBA jobs
available to graduates.
ð Growth led by China and India once
more although newer players, such
as Pakistan and Malaysia, are also
making their mark.
Latin America
ð A stellar year in which the region’s mar-
ket for MBA jobs has been reinvigorated
by an 18% jump in hiring and a signifi-
cant rise in average salaries.
ð A good year for Brazil as it prepared for
and hosted the Summer Olympics, its
MBA job market swelling as a result.
Middle East & Africa
ð A sluggish year of just 1% growth in
which losses from key markets in the
UAE and Saudi Arabia have been felt.
ð Salaries across the region have remained
largely consistent in spite of the disap-
pointing growth in jobs.
What do MBA employers want?
ð Soft skills continue to be considered a key part of the MBA value proposition among employers.
ð Around 69% of employers worldwide seek MBA hires with more than three years’ prior
work experience; 31% seek those with more than five years’ experience.
ð Strategic planning describes the role into which MBAs are most commonly hired, followed
by non-advisory finance roles, general management, marketing and consultancy.
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6 Why do Employers Hire MBAs?
Why do employers target those in possession of an MBA degree and for what purposes are grad-
uates hired? The following quotes are taken from a 2016 series of recruiter interviews, all of
which are available to read in full on TopMBA.com*.
“KPMGunderstandsandrecognizestheimportanceofMBAstoourfirmandtoourclients.Aswe
continue to position ourselves as a leader in the marketplace, we can anticipate that the demand
forMBAswillonlycontinuetoincrease.”
KPMG’snationaldirectorofcampusrecruiting,MalanaWhite
“ByhiringMBAswithexpertiseinspecificareas,weknowthatwe’rebringinginteammembers
that have had the appropriate training necessary to add value and succeed.”
Dell’suniversityrelationsanddiversitymanagerforNorthAmerica,MariaCrabtree
“OneofthekeythingsforMBAsisthatwe’retryingtobringinpeoplewhocanbefutureleaders
within the company.”
Cisco’suniversityrecruitmentleadfortheAmericas,NicholasColinear
“DeltahaslongrecognizedthevalueofhiringMBAstosolvecomplexchallengesandidentifysolu-
tionsthatallowustobestserveourcustomersthroughoutallaspectsofourbusiness.”
DeltaAirLines’directoroftalentacquisition,GlenJohnson
“We’rehiringmoreMBAsthaneverbeforebecausewe’refindingthatthemiddleanduppereche-
lonsofourcompanycouldn’tbefilledwithinternaltalentinthewayithadbefore.”
UPS’sdirectoroftalentacquisition,MattLavery
“WeplantocontinuehiringMBAs;it’sbecomingmoreandmoreofastandardforleadershiproles
andarequirementforourcoreareas,suchascorporatestrategyandmarketing.”
LandO’Lakes’manageroftalentacquisition,NickKoewler
*http://www.topmba.com/article/tags/recruiter-interviews
7
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…and what can employers offer graduates of the degree?
Of course, recruitment in the second decade of the 21st century is very much a two-way street.
At the level to which MBAs aspire, the onus is on the employer to show what they can offer grad-
uates as much as it is on the MBA to showcase their abilities. With that in mind, here are some
further highlights from TopMBA.com’s recruiter interview series.
“PwC’s Strategy& hires MBAs at the senior associate level. They work closely with clients and
PwC’sStrategy&teamstoidentify,clarifyandresolvecomplexissuescriticaltoaclient’sstrategic
and operating success.”
Strategy&campusrecruitinglead,SeemaMalveaux
“IncomingMBAsaregivenresponsibilityfromtheonset,itisasteeplearningcurveandwechal-
lenge them to go beyond ‘business as usual’.”
Barclays’headofbankingassociaterecruitment,KristiRobson
“Our MBAs will acquire transformational leadership and pivoting skills that are essential to
a dynamic workplace.”
AT&T’sassociatedirectorofdevelopmentprograms,TheresaHoover
“Thereisnoone-size-fits-allentry-levelpositionforMBAgraduatescomingin.Ourcurrentrota-
tionalprogramdesigntapsintothefeaturesofwhatthefuturecareer,orcareers,willlooklikefor
manymillennials.Thatis,adiverserangeoffunctions,roles,segmentsandpotentiallygeogra-
phies,andinvolvesloadsofcomplexityandchange.”
Mars’ talent manager, employer reputation and university relations, Manuel Muñoz
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1. Global Overview: MBA Jobs & Salary Trends
1%
4% 17%
16%
9%
18%
1.1 Changes in MBA demand around the world
Region 15/16 (forecast) 15/16 (actual) 16/17 (forecast)
Asia-Pacific 13% 17% 13%
Eastern Europe 17% 9% 10%
Latin America 14% 18% 5%
Middle East & Africa 3% 1% 2%
US & Canada 14% 16% 3%
Western Europe 2% 4% 2%
Global 11% 13% 7%
8
9
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Surpassing expectations this year has been
the growth in new opportunities on offer in
the US & Canada, a region which has now
backed up the bumper year of growth it saw
last year, when MBA demand rose by 26%.
However, it is employers in Latin America
which report the year’s highest growth fig-
ure and a startling recovery on the mere 1%
figure the region witnessed last year, reaf-
firming the value of the qualification in the
region. In this, Latin America seems certain
to have been buoyed by the international
attention centered on Brazil this year, as Rio
de Janeiro hosted the Summer Olympics.
Asia-Pacific has continued to defy pre-
dictions of a slowdown to the pace of its
growth in MBA demand, while hiring in
Western Europe has been better than was
anticipated this time last year. Conversely,
the healthy rise in new opportunities open
to MBAs in Eastern Europe hasn’t quite lived
up to the high expectations our employer
respondents placed in the region last year.
Even so, perhaps the year’s only negative
note is the stagnancy reported across the
Middle East & Africa this year, which has
been slightly worse than was feared.
Aside from Western Europe and the Mid-
dle East & Africa, the rise of MBA demand
has been relatively consistent, wavering no
more than five percentage points from the
global average in both mature and emerging
markets. This showcases the qualification’s
continuing appeal no matter where in the
world you find yourself.
Around the world, the demand for MBA graduates has risen by 13% between 2015 and 2016 – a
level of growth which comes close to replicating the 14% figure seen in the previous edition of
this report and stands ahead of the 11% forecast we made last year.
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10
The world’s top 20 countries for MBA demand, 2016/171UNITED STATES
2INDIA
7UAE
8SAUDI ARABIA
9MEXICO
3BRAZIL
4 CANADA
6CHINA
10SOUTH KOREA
11SPAIN
5SINGAPORE
12RUSSIA
13UK
14JORDAN
15JAPAN
16EGYPT
17PAKISTAN
18PERU
19KAZAKHSTAN
20GERMANY
The table shows the 20 countries in which we found the
highest volume of MBA job opportunities on offer. In this
assessment, larger countries will invariably perform bet-
ter than those with smaller populations yet it’s notable
that all regions of the world are represented in this top 20,
even those which experienced underwhelming growth
over the past year.
The US continues to lead the way as the world’s biggest
market for MBA graduates, with its North American neigh-
bor, Canada, nestled safely within the top five. Five coun-
tries in Europe make the top 20, three of which can be
found in the more mature markets of Western Europe and
two of which can be found in Eastern Europe and its more
emerging appetite for holders of the degree. Asia-Pacific
has even more representatives than Europe, with six.
These include India – the world’s second-biggest market
for MBAs - Singapore and China.
Among Latin America’s three representatives is the
region’s most populous nation and third-biggest market
for MBA jobs, Brazil. Meanwhile, UAE and Saudi Arabia are
the Middle East & Africa’s highest-placing nations for the
size of their MBA employment markets, in seventh and
eighth position, respectively.
11
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1.2 Changes in MBA salary levels around the world
MBA salary levels by region
Region 2016 2015% Change
(15/16)
US & Canada $94,000 $97,300 -3%
Western Europe $83,200 $91,300 -9%
Eastern Europe $49,600 $53,000 -6%
Asia-Pacific $70,900 $69,200 2%
Latin America $62,300 $46,200 35%
Middle East & Africa $66,600 $68,700 -3%
MBA bonus levels by region
Region 2016 2015% Change
(15/16)
US & Canada $29,900 $26,100 15%
Western Europe $19,700 $19,800 -1%
Eastern Europe $22,500 $9,300 142%
Asia-Pacific $19,400 $26,000 -25%
Latin America $18,600 $8,300 124%
Middle East & Africa $22,100 $12,300 80%
Total compensation continues to
top US$100,000 in the mature MBA
employment markets of the US & Canada
and Western Europe, on average. There’s
little change in the US & Canada, where
a slight drop to the average base level
on offer is offset by a rise in reported
bonus levels. Western Europe does take
MBA salary levels: Total compensation (including bonus levels)
Region 2016 2015% Change
(15/16)
US & Canada $123,900 $123,400 0%
Western Europe $102,900 $111,100 -7%
Eastern Europe $72,100 $62,300 16%
Asia-Pacific $90,300 $95,200 -5%
Latin America $80,900 $54,500 48%
Middle East & Africa $88,700 $81,000 10%
*allfiguresareinUSdollars,US$
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12
a hit when we convert the average base salary on offer into US dollars for the ease of our
comparison, but bonus levels have remained consistent after taking a tumble last year.
The largest beneficiaries this year, when it comes to salary levels, are those who have been
seeking positions with recruiters based in Latin America. Indeed, the region is no longer the
source of the world’s lowest average salaries, as was the case in 2015. Two of the world’s
other younger MBA employment markets - Eastern Europe and the Middle East & Africa -
also post noteworthy salary rises, in spite of the latter’s stagnant growth rate in terms of
available opportunities over the past year.
There’s a slight drop to the overall levels on offer in Asia-Pacific this year, but base levels in
the region have actually risen ever so slightly. This seems impressive given the continued
growth in opportunities we see in Asia-Pacific, especially in light of the variance we see
between the levels that different markets and individual countries within the region can
reasonably offer graduates by way of remuneration.
13
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Country of Employer Average Salary Average Bonus Total
1 Australia $108,250 $14,700 $122,950
2 United States $100,714 $29,500 $130,214
3 Canada $92,500 $23,214 $115,714
4 Ireland $92,125 $12,100 $104,225
5 United Kingdom $91,600 $27,967 $119,567
6 Singapore $90,700 $46,429 $137,129
7 France $87,071 $36,667 $123,738
8 Malaysia $82,267 $11,940 $94,207
9 Italy $80,833 $24,167 $105,000
10 Brazil $75,138 $25,210 $100,348
11 Germany $72,767 $14,580 $87,347
12 United Arab Emirates $72,000 $21,000 $93,000
13 Peru $68,333 $23,500 $91,833
14 Colombia $63,200 $13,500 $76,700
15 Portugal $60,333 $13,700 $74,033
16 Japan $60,000 $20,000 $80,000
17 Spain $57,929 $14,040 $71,969
18 Mexico $57,325 $18,385 $75,710
19 South Korea $55,000 $20,000 $75,000
20 China $52,273 $24,714 $76,987
The world’s top 20 countries for MBA salary levels in 2016
The table above shows the countries in
which the 20 highest average salary levels
have been on offer to MBAs among our
global pool of employer respondents
over the past year. They are ordered by
base levels on offer and therefore do not
include the average bonus reported by
employers in each country.
In order to make this comparison as fair
and robust as possible, those countries in
which usable employer responses did not
meet a minimum threshold were excluded.
Unfortunately, this has entailed excluding
the likes of Switzerland and New Zealand –
countries in which we have consistently seen
some of the world’s healthiest MBA salary
levels in previous editions of this report.
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14 2. Industry Insights
2.1 Changes in MBA demand by industry
Industry Growth in MBA jobs, 2015/16
Market share of recruitment in
2015
Market share of recruitment in
2016
Change in market share, 15/16
Aerospace / Defense 1% 0.3% 0.5% 0.3%
Construction / Property 16% 4.2% 3.8% -0.4%
Consulting / Professional Services 14% 8.7% 10.3% 1.6%
Consumer Goods 10% 1.6% 1.6% 0.0%
Education 13% 7.6% 7.3% -0.3%
Electronics / High Technology 7% 6.0% 5.1% -0.9%
Energy 0.3% 2.6% 2.4% -0.2%
Financial Services / Banking 8% 17.1% 16.3% -0.8%
IT / Computer Services 27% 12.2% 14.0% 1.8%
Law 0% 0.4% 0.4% 0.0%
Manufacturing / Engineering 7% 6.5% 5.7% -0.8%
Media / Entertainment & Arts 9% 0.3% 0.2% -0.1%
Metals / Mining 5% 2.2% 2.0% -0.2%
Other 13% 5.9% 6.3% 0.4%
Pharmaceuticals / Biotech & Healthcare 13% 4.6% 5.6% 1.0%
Public Sector / Govt. / Nonprofit 3% 1.5% 1.3% -0.2%
Recruitment / HR services 4% 3.3% 2.7% -0.6%
Retail 8% 2.5% 2.4% 0.0%
Telecoms 11% 3.4% 3.3% -0.1%
Transportation / Distribution 18% 1.0% 0.9% -0.1%
Travel / Leisure / Hospitality 31% 7.8% 7.5% -0.3%
Utilities 38% 0.6% 0.5% -0.1%
Consulting/professional services (consulting) and financial services/banking (finance) remain
significant, not to mention sought-after, MBA recruitment sectors worldwide. Finance firms
remain the single-largest recruiters among our respondents, though their share of recruitment
has fallen since last year. Consulting firms, on the other hand, are registering significant growth
in demand for MBA hires. While the IT/computer services (IT) sector has not traditionally had
the reputation of being quite as MBA-heavy as consulting and finance, these firms are showing
the biggest increase in their share of MBA hires among our respondents this year, and are now
the second-largest sector for MBA recruitment.
The general trend among industries is one of MBA recruitment becoming more concentrated
into key sectors. Pharmaceuticals/biotech & healthcare (pharmaceuticals), consulting, and IT
are all seeing significant increases in MBA hiring, while most other sectors are either stable or
have simply been outperformed by the aforementioned growth sectors.
15
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Yearly growth when divided into main hiring areas
Following exceptional registered
growth over 2014/15 – particularly in
consulting and industry – 2015/16 has
seen a continuing, albeit somewhat more
stable, pattern of growth.
Technology firms have seen significant
growth over the past year. Indeed, they’ve
registered a near-20% increase in MBA hires
this year, a rise of 5% from their previous
year’s growth. (Technology is grouped here
as a combination of the aerospace/defense,
electronics/high technology, IT/computer
services and telecoms sectors.)
Pharmaceutical firms have shown similarly
strong growth, scaling up from their more
muted growth across 2014/15.
Finance firms have remained relatively
stable in their recruiting trends - increasing
hiring at roughly the same rate as
previously. On the other hand, firms in the
consulting and industry categories have
gone from barnstorming levels of hiring
in 2014/15 to reduced rates of growth to
their levels of MBA recruitment.
Firms that fall under the ‘other’
classification include some of the less
traditional avenues of MBA recruitment,
such as the public sector/government/
nonprofit and transportation/distribution
sectors. This category is hiring MBAs at
nearly double the rate it was over 2014/15.
Consulting
Finance
Industry
Other
Pharmaceuticals
Technology
2014/15
2015/16
24%
9%
9%
8%
14%
24%
14%
8%
15%
13%
19%
8%
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16
2.2 MBA salaries by industry
Industry SectorAverage Salary
Aerospace / Defense $94,800
Construction / Property $120,300
Consulting / ProfessionalServices
$88,500
Consumer Goods $62,600
Education $78,200
Electronics / High Technology
$88,200
Energy $121,100
Financial Services / Banking
$99,100
IT / Computer Services $89,500
Law $165,000
Manufacturing/ Engineering $88,600
Industry SectorAverage Salary
Media / Entertainment & Arts
$86,500
Metals / Mining $125,800
Pharma / Biotech & Healthcare
$99,200
Public Sector / Govt. / Nonprofit
$88,500
Recruitment / HR Services $90,100
Retail $89,000
Telecoms $84,600
Transportation / Distribution $76,000
Travel / Leisure / Hospitality $84,200
Utilities $90,000
Other $80,400
Average salaries by industry in North America & Western Europe
17
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The majority of average salaries highlighted here fall between US$85,000 and US$95,000,
excluding bonus levels. Consulting and finance, two of the most desirable industries among
MBA graduates, produce average salaries of just under US$90,000 and US$100,000, respec-
tively. IT and other firms in the technology bracket, which have registered significant increases
to their MBA hiring numbers, are also paying graduates around US$90,000.
Particularly high-paying employers else-
where include those in the pharmaceuti-
cals which, like those in finance, are pro-
viding their Western European and North
American MBAs with salaries of just under
US$100,000. For MBAs willing to look
towards less traditional MBA hiring sectors,
construction/property and energy firms
have registered exceptionally high average
salaries this year, with both paying over
US$120,000 to their MBAs.
Some industries, while providing attractive
opportunities in evolving environments,
do appear to have significantly lower MBA
salaries than average. This is most notable
among consumer goods firms, followed by
companies in the education and transpor-
tation/distribution sectors.
The data for these average industry salaries
comes from employer respondents who
provided salaries for their North America
and Western Europe-based roles, and col-
lates figures provided in 2014, 2015 and
2016. Despite the large pool of respond-
ents this encompasses overall, the figures
for law and metals/mining include a rel-
atively small number of employers with
the relevant salaries, and therefore these
averages aren’t necessarily quite as relia-
ble as the remainder.
18
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14/15 growth (actual)
15/16 growth (actual)
16/17 growth (forecast)
Consulting 26% 8% 1%
Finance 17% 3% 0%
Technology 29% 19% 3%
Pharmaceuticals 36% 7% 1%
Industry 6% 4% 4%
Last year, MBA job opportunities in the
US & Canada grew by 26% - an astonish-
ing return to form for the world’s most
mature market. That rise has now been
backed up by further growth in the shape
of an impressive 16% growth in new
opportunities between 2015 and 2016.
The standout industry growth over this
past year has, once again, come in the US
& Canada’s technology sector. However,
solid growth has also been seen in the
region’s consulting and pharmaceuti-
cal sectors. While none of these figures
quite hit the heights of what we saw last
year in individual industries (when jobs
in consulting rose by 26%, for exam-
ple) they do solidify those startling
surges and indicate that they were no
mere flash in the pan.
This year, North America’s growth in
MBA hiring is consistent across each of
the US and Canada – indicative of the health of
the world’s two most mature markets for grad-
uates. The forecast for the year ahead, how-
ever, is a little more conservative. However,
it must be said that 2016 has been a year of
increased uncertainty within the region – not
least because of the presidential election in the
US, any significant effects of which won’t start
to take shape until 2017.
14/15 growth
(actual)15/16 growth
(forecast)15/16 growth
(actual)16/17 growth
(forecast)
US & Canada 26% 14% 16% 3%
3. MBA Jobs & Salaries: In-Depth Analysis
3.1 US & Canada
19
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MBA employer outlooks in the US & Canada - RegionstargetedforMBArecruitment
MBA employer outlooks towards the US & Canada - Who targets the region?
Salary trends in the US & Canada
Employers in the US & Canada are second only to Latin America for their tendency to gaze
inwards for their MBA hiring needs. This shouldn’t come as a huge surprise given the number of
reputable programs on offer within the region and, indeed, the level of international diversity
found among the students of these programs. It is interesting to note, however, that Asia-
Pacific is now the second-most favored region to which North American recruiters look, having
overtaken Western Europe over the past year.
Around the world, approximately a quarter of MBA employers from outside the US & Canada will
look to the region as part of their recruitment strategies. This proportion rises to more than a
third among employers in Western Europe.
US & Canada
Latin America
Western Europe
Eastern Europe
Middle East & Africa
Asia-Pacific
All Regions
US & Canada 98% 18% 29% 15% 14% 31% 8%
US & Canada
Latin America
Western Europe
Eastern Europe
Middle East & Africa
Asia-Pacific
US & Canada 98% 17% 36% 20% 26% 33%
The average MBA salary levels on offer from
employers in the US & Canada have remained
largely consistent over the past year.
In the US, the average base salary may have
fallen by 2.5% on that reported in 2015,
but bonuses have risen by 32% to offset
this loss. In Canada, the change since 2015
is fractional – the average base salary is
down by a mere 0.3% on last year. Across
the region, the pace of growth to hiring from
the consulting and finance industries is
slower than last year, which could go some
way towards explaining why we do not see
a salary increase in 2016 similar to that
seen last year. After all, these are the two
industries that traditionally pay out some of
the highest figures to MBAs.
US & Canada Average Salary Average Bonus
Canada $92,500 $23,214
United States $100,714 $29,500
Regional Average $94,000 $29,900
20
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14/15 growth (actual)
15/16 growth (actual)
16/17 growth (forecast)
Consulting 0.20% 1% 1%
Finance 3% 2% 1%
Technology 15% 2% -3%
Pharmaceuticals -1% 0% 2%
Industry 34% 7% 10%
There aren’t many who would say that
2015/16 has been anything other than
a challenging year for much of West-
ern Europe. However, the region’s MBA
employment market has still managed
to perform better than was anticipated
this time last year. Central to this has
been a rise in jobs available to MBAs
in our industry category – something
which also provides further evidence of
the number of different sectors in which
employers seek to harness the skills
of an MBA graduate.
Within the region, the strength of hiring
witnessed in the UK is a clear highlight,
although it should be noted that much of
this data will date to before the country’s
referendum over its EU status in the mid-
dle of 2016 and the ensuing uncertainty
generated as a consequence. To a lesser
extent, employers in Spain have also had
a decent year, yet the region’s overall
growth is tempered by disappointing years for
Germany, Switzerland and, in particular, Ireland.
Overall growth of 4% across 2015/16 comes
with a forecast for next year that is more mod-
est still, as recruiters await the potential impact
of the UK beginning its process of disengage-
ment from the EU and the start of election years
in both France and Germany.
14/15 growth
(actual)15/16 growth
(forecast)15/16 growth
(actual)16/17 growth
(forecast)
Western Europe 9% 2% 4% 2%
3.2 Western Europe
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MBA employer outlooks in Western Europe - RegionstargetedforMBArecruitment
MBA employer outlooks towards Western Europe - Who targets the region?
Salary trends in Western Europe
Employers in Western Europe are no longer the least inclined to recruit from within their own
region – a jump of five percentage points over the past year has allowed it to overtake Asia-
Pacific and the Middle East & Africa in this respect. However, more than a third of employers in
Western Europe target a region outside of their own, making them comfortably the world’s most
outward looking. The region also contains the highest proportion of employers with their eyes
set on recruiting from all regions of the world.
Outside of the region, graduates are targeted for recruitment by a quarter of employers –
just a fraction behind the proportion looking towards the US & Canada for their hiring needs.
Graduates from Western Europe are most often on the radar of recruiters based in the Middle
East & Africa, where they are targeted by a third of companies.
US & Canada
Latin America
Western Europe
Eastern Europe
Middle East & Africa
Asia-Pacific
All Regions
Western Europe 36% 25% 90% 53% 28% 28% 18%
US & Canada
Latin America
Western Europe
Eastern Europe
Middle East & Africa
Asia-Pacific
Western Europe 29% 12% 90% 25% 33% 24%
Denmark produces an average salary that
is closest to this year’s regional average
of US$83,200. Among the region’s five
most popular MBA study destinations
(according to the QS Applicant Survey 2015)
three countries post averages above this
threshold (the UK, France and Switzerland)
and two below (Germany and Spain).
Ireland may have had a bad year in terms
of growth in new MBA opportunities, yet
its employers report a rise in the average
salary on offer. The reverse is true of the UK,
in which a strong year of growth has been
accompanied by a fall in salary. The highest
salaries across the region can be found in
Switzerland and Belgium, although we must
note the smaller sample size among our
pool of respondents in each of these cases.
Western Europe Average Salary Average Bonus
Belgium * $129,000 -
Denmark * $83,900 $11,000
France $87,071 $36,667
Germany $72,767 $14,580
Ireland $92,125 $12,100
Italy $80,833 $24,167
Portugal $60,333 $13,700
Spain $57,929 $14,040
Switzerland * $120,500 $13,250
United Kingdom $91,600 $27,967
Regional Average $83,200 $19,700 * denotes countries with smaller sample sizes that have been excludedfromsectionone’sglobaltop20listing
22
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14/15 growth (actual)
15/16 growth (actual)
16/17 growth (forecast)
Consulting 4% 2% 3%
Finance 2% 5% 4%
Technology 40% 5% 12%
Pharmaceuticals -25% 16% 0%
Industry 14% -7% -1%
The pace of growth in the number of
opportunities available to MBA gradu-
ates in Eastern Europe has quickened to
more than double the rate seen between
2014 and 2015. The region has, in this
way, performed better than its neighbors
in Western Europe, yet still falls short
of the high expectations the region’s
employer anticipated last year. The fall
in positions reported in industry looks
to be the most likely culprit, although
growth to the region’s consulting indus-
try has been modest and the technology
industry has not been able to come close
to the surge in hiring it saw last year.
Perhaps the bar had been set a little too
high for Eastern Europe this time around
– next year’s forecast of 10% looks to be
more achievable purely by dint of its rel-
ative conservatism. Either way, it has been Rus-
sia and Kazakhstan that have been the drivers
of growth across the region between 2015 and
2016 and these two seem central to Eastern
Europe’s continuing progress.
14/15 growth
(actual)15/16 growth
(forecast)15/16 growth
(actual)16/17 growth
(forecast)
Overall 4% 17% 9% 10%
3.3 Eastern Europe
23
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MBA employer outlooks in Eastern Europe - RegionstargetedforMBArecruitment
MBA employer outlooks towards Eastern Europe - Who targets the region?
Salary trends in Eastern Europe
A quarter of employers in Eastern Europe look to hire from countries in the neighboring region
of Western Europe, while one in five are targeting graduates from the US & Canada. On the
whole, however, the region’s employers are far less likely to turn their attentions outward than
those based anywhere else in the world, bar Latin America.
Eastern Europe is targeted by more than half of recruiters located in the neighboring region of
Western Europe. This ensures that the overall average of those outside the region who target
Eastern Europe is just under a quarter, closely resembling the proportion of employers who look
to recruit from Western Europe.
US & Canada
Latin America
Western Europe
Eastern Europe
Middle East & Africa
Asia-Pacific
All Regions
Eastern Europe 20% 6% 25% 94% 6% 12% 6%
US & Canada
Latin America
Western Europe
Eastern Europe
Middle East & Africa
Asia-Pacific
Eastern Europe 15% 7% 53% 94% 26% 18%
Total salaries on offer from employers in
Eastern Europe have seen a notable uptick
over the past year, but one that seems to
relate more to the size of the bonuses on
offer than to the base average. The levels
reported by employers in Russia provide
ample demonstration of this trend and,
indeed, the region’s averages are closely tied
to the experience of the country with Eastern
Europe’s largest employment market.
Eastern Europe Average Salary Average Bonus
Greece * $26,400 $7,593
Lithuania * $25,080 -
Russia $47,333 $36,600
Regional Average $49,600 $22,500
* denotes countries with smaller sample sizes that have been excludedfromsectionone’sglobaltop20listing
24
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14/15 growth (actual)
15/16 growth (actual)
16/17 growth (forecast)
Consulting 35% 11% 8%
Finance 15% 8% 2%
Technology 10% 7% 2%
Pharmaceuticals -1% 8% 5%
Industry 25% 11% 25%
When will Asia-Pacific stop defying
predictions of a slowdown to the pace
at which its MBA employment market
expands? The past year has again seen
it surpass the previous year’s forecast.
Growth has been solid in every area,
although consulting and industry have
seen the highest increases in hiring levels.
Within the region, the standout growth
figures pertain, once again, to China and
India. However, the region’s appetite for
holders of the qualification is certainly
not limited to these two 21st century
powerhouses. Double-digit percentage
growth has also been seen over the past
year in the emerging market of Paki-
stan and the established business hub
that is Singapore. Notable expansion
in Malaysia and growth to the mature
market of Japan are also not too far
off this threshold.
In the year ahead, industry areas of hiring are
expected to kick on across the region as a whole
and grow at an even faster pace than has been
seen in 2015/16. Elsewhere recruiters seem to
be more cautious about what lies ahead. Based
on the region’s track record, however, it seems
perfectly plausible that they will continue to
exceed the forecasts.
14/15 growth
(actual)15/16 growth
(forecast)15/16 growth
(actual)16/17 growth
(forecast)
Overall 18% 13% 17% 13%
3.4 Asia-Pacific
25
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MBA employer outlooks in Asia-Pacific - RegionstargetedforMBArecruitment
MBA employer outlooks towards Asia-Pacific - Who targets the region?
Salary trends in Asia-Pacific
More than one in 10 employers in Asia-Pacific are not looking to recruit from within the region.
This is perhaps evidence of a desire to hire graduates who have gained the kind of knowledge
that can help organizations expand from a regional stage to a global one. While 10% of the
region’s employers say they target every region of the world, sights are set first and foremost
on the US & Canada and, to a slightly lesser extent, Western Europe.
Employers in the US & Canada are the most likely to look to Asia-Pacific to meet their MBA
hiring needs, closely followed by those in the Middle East & Africa and Western Europe. The
worldwide average of MBA employers from outside Asia-Pacific who include the region in their
hiring plans is approximately one in five.
US & Canada
Latin America
Western Europe
Eastern Europe
Middle East & Africa
Asia-Pacific
All Regions
Asia-Pacific 33% 10% 24% 18% 17% 89% 10%
US & Canada
Latin America
Western Europe
Eastern Europe
Middle East & Africa
Asia-Pacific
Asia-Pacific 31% 6% 28% 12% 29% 89%
The average base salary level in Asia-Pacific
has risen slightly over the past year but,
overall, the region has not got much closely
to what’s on offer in the mature MBA markets
of North America and Western Europe. This
is, in part, because of the continuing variance
we see in what’s on offer between individual
countries in the region and, of course, the
relative costs of living to be found there.
On the one hand, Australia’s average tops the
worldwide list this year, while the levels seen
in Singapore stand comfortably alongside
the best in both North America and Western
Europe. On the other hand, average salaries
in Pakistan and Thailand are among the
world’s lowest. Even so, this year has seen
encouraging increases in remuneration
for those in India, Japan, Taiwan and, in
particular, Malaysia.
Asia-Pacific Average Salary Average Bonus
Australia $108,250 $14,700
China $52,273 $24,714
Hong Kong $51,074 $44,283
India $51,733 $4,725
Indonesia $49,000 $16,167
Japan $60,000 $20,000
Malaysia $82,267 $11,940
Pakistan * $24,000 $3,700
Singapore $90,700 $46,429
South Korea $55,000 $20,000
Taiwan $46,625 $16,830
Thailand * $27,000 $2,000
Regional Average $70,900 $19,400
* denotes countries with smaller sample sizes that have been excludedfromsectionone’sglobaltop20listing
26
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14/15 growth (actual)
15/16 growth (actual)
16/17 growth (forecast)
Consulting 33% 2% 2%
Finance 18% 13% 5%
Technology -19% 11% -9%
Pharmaceuticals 1% 7% -7%
Industry 14% 22% -9%
Recruiters in Latin America expected
its growth in MBA hiring over this past
year to represent a significant improve-
ment on that seen in 2014/15 and the
region has more than delivered with an
18% rise in new opportunities for gradu-
ates of an MBA degree.
The greatest growth has come in the
region’s industry arena, yet has certainly
not been limited to this – the finance and
the technology/telecommunications
industries have also played their part.
It’s no surprise, given the country’s
hosting of the 2016 Summer Olympics,
to see Brazil taking center-stage within
Latin America. Employers in the region’s
most populous nation testify to strident
growth in new opportunities for MBAs
that more than makes up for its dismal
performance in our previous edition.
However, equally impressive has been
the expansion of MBA hiring levels in
Mexico and Argentina as well as in the more
nascent market of Venezuela, from which the
region’s highest growth figure this year derives.
By contrast, growth in new positions available
to MBAs in Chile, a relatively well-established
market in the region, has been more modest.
Perhaps as an aftereffect to Brazil’s Olympic
year, the pace of growth seen across Latin Amer-
ica this year is not expected to continue, such is
the impact wielded by the Lusophone nation.
A modest 5% growth figure is predicted for
2016/17 in which we might even see slight con-
tractions to the number of available positions
in all but the consulting and finance sectors.
14/15 growth
(actual)15/16 growth
(forecast)15/16 growth
(actual)16/17 growth
(forecast)
Overall 1% 14% 18% 5%
3.5 Latin America
27
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MBA employer outlooks in Latin America - RegionstargetedforMBArecruitment
MBA employer outlooks towards Latin America - Who targets the region?
Salary trends in Latin America
Recruiters in Latin America remain the world’s most fixated on hiring from within their own
region. They are also the least likely to look to recruit outside the region and just 4% are targeting
every region of the world. However, a little less than one in six will look towards North America.
On average, 15% of employers outside of Latin America said that the region was a target for
their MBA hiring needs and, among respondents in Western Europe, this figure stands at 25%.
US & Canada
Latin America
Western Europe
Eastern Europe
Middle East & Africa
Asia-Pacific
All Regions
Latin America 17% 99% 12% 7% 5% 6% 4%
US & Canada
Latin America
Western Europe
Eastern Europe
Middle East & Africa
Asia-Pacific
Latin America 18% 99% 25% 6% 14% 10%
Buoyed by renewed growth in the region’s
MBA job opportunities, employers in Latin
America are no longer paying out the
world’s lowest MBA salaries. Central to this
has been a leap in the figures on offer in
Brazil, which now has the highest average
salary in the region. Strong rises can also
be seen in what’s on offer from employers
in Peru and Mexico. It’s not all good news,
mind, with fractional falls detectable in the
averages on offer in Chile and Colombia –
two countries in which this year’s growth
has been more modest than elsewhere in
the region. Even so, the challenge for Latin
America will be to maintain and build on
these levels in the years ahead.
Latin America Average Salary Average Bonus
Brazil $75,138 $25,210
Chile $50,850 $9,900
Colombia $63,200 $13,500
Mexico $57,325 $18,385
Peru $68,333 $23,500
Regional Average $62,300 $18,600
28
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14/15 growth (actual)
15/16 growth (actual)
16/17 growth (forecast)
Consulting 26% 13% 2%
Finance 2% -7% 0%
Technology 0.10% 1% 0%
Pharmaceuticals -8% 10% 5%
Industry 29% -26% 7%
Despite healthy signs of growth to the
consulting and pharmaceuticals sec-
tors across the Middle East & Africa, the
overall number of MBA jobs available
from employers in the region has been
stagnant between 2015 and 2016. In this,
contractions to the number of positions
available among employers in the key
regional markets of Saudi Arabia and
the UAE appear to have held the most
sway. Although, considering the difficult
circumstances much of the region has
found itself in over the past year, it is per-
haps impressive in itself that the region
has not suffered an overall decline.
One area in which we do see a contrac-
tion in jobs available in the Middle East
& Africa, however, is in its industry sec-
tors – a bracket which encompasses the
malaise that has been afflicting oil production.
The finance industry has also seen a reduction
in positions on offer to graduates. The forecast
for the year ahead is modest, presumably as
recruiters wait and see how conditions in the
region might improve.
14/15 growth
(actual)15/16 growth
(forecast)15/16 growth
(actual)16/17 growth
(forecast)
Overall 8% 3% 1% 2%
3.6 The Middle East & Africa
29
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MBA employer outlooks in the Middle East & Africa - RegionstargetedforMBArecruitment
MBA employer outlooks towards the Middle East & Africa - Who targets the region?
Salary trends in the Middle East & Africa
Four of the world’s five external regions are on the radars of at least a quarter of employers
based in the Middle East & Africa as they continue to be among the world’s most outward
looking. Yet, in this respect the region now stands second to Western Europe, a change since
last year. In the past year, employers from the Middle East & Africa have also become the least
likely in the world to target their own region for MBA hires, overtaking Western Europe.
Recruiters in Western Europe are the most likely to target graduates from the Middle East &
Africa. On the whole, the region is currently attracting the attention of 14% of recruiters located
elsewhere in the world, putting it marginally behind Latin America in this respect.
US & Canada
Latin America
Western Europe
Eastern Europe
Middle East & Africa
Asia-Pacific
All Regions
Middle East & Africa 26% 14% 33% 26% 88% 29% 14%
US & Canada
Latin America
Western Europe
Eastern Europe
Middle East & Africa
Asia-Pacific
Middle East & Africa 14% 5% 28% 6% 88% 17%
It may have been an underwhelming year for
the Middle East & Africa in terms of growth
to the number of opportunities on offer
to MBAs, but salary levels have remained
resilient for the most part.
The base level is down 3% on what we saw
last year, but when you factor in reported
bonus levels, the overall figure is up. Saudi
Arabia (in which we must take note of a
relatively small sample size) and the UAE
both record a rise in salary this year, but it
is South Africa in which the region’s highest
salaries continue to be found.
Middle East & Africa Average Salary Average Bonus
Saudi Arabia * $60,000 -
South Africa * $92,500 $15,000
United Arab Emirates $72,000 $21,000
Regional Average $66,600 $22,100
* denotes countries with smaller sample sizes that have been excludedfromsectionone’sglobaltop20listing
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30 4. Long-Term Trends in MBA Jobs
Index of long-term hiring trends
When looked at in isolation, MBA recruitment
between 2015 and 2016 has been strong on
all counts. Respondents from all four of our
main categories have kept up and exceeded
the volume of MBA hires seen in previous
years, though finance firms saw the small-
est rise in new hires. However, compared to
the explosive growth of the past two years,
2016 undoubtedly represents a stabilizing
of recruitment levels. Looking further into
the future, industry and consulting firms
still forecast an increased demand for MBAs,
while finance and technology both look set
to maintain existing numbers.
Finance quite rightly remains a highly desir-
able sector in which to work, but is also
arguably one of the most easily held hos-
tage to prevailing market conditions. Even
before upheavals in the political landscape
across much of the Western world made the
future regulatory environment increasingly
difficult to predict, slowdowns in the Chi-
nese markets had spooked many. As seen
elsewhere in the report, MBAs who find
QS’s long-term recruitment trends index* offers a fascinating insight into how MBA recruitment
has evolved over the past two decades. Following an astounding rise in MBA recruitment levels
across the board between 2013 and 2014 – particularly among firms that fall under our indus-
try and consulting categories, 2015 was another year of strong growth among our respondents.
After such a surge in recruiting levels, combined with increasing instability in global markets,
it’s unsurprising that MBA hiring estimates are now beginning to level off.
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
6.00
5.00
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
0.00
IndustryConsultingFinanceTechnology
31
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work in finance institutions can expect
high levels of compensation and a fas-
cinating, challenging environment, but
MBA-level jobs in finance may be subject
to increased levels of competition if low
supply from employers finds continued
high demand from would-be employees.
While we’ve seen elsewhere that tech-
nology employers are stepping up their
MBA hiring, we can see from the long-
term recruitment trends index that
technology has historically been the
smallest of our four main areas of MBA
recruitment. However, since 2013, it has
also been the most consistent in terms
of year-on-year growth. Technology is
a sector rife both with investment and
with continual innovation. Despite its
rise to prominence as an MBA-heavy
industry being slow (and still ongoing),
this seems sure to continue. MBA gradu-
ates looking for challenge and opportu-
nity would be well-advised to consider
working in the technology sector.
*QS’slong-termrecruitmenttrendsindex
focusespurelyonthefourprincipalave-
nues of MBA recruitment, leaving aside
more recent breakdowns which produce
the categories ‘other’ and ‘pharmaceuti-
cals’ seen elsewhere in this report.
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32 5. What Employers Want
5.1 The MBA skillset
Employer respondents are asked to rate the importance to their firm of 15 skills which future
MBA hires might possess on a scale of one to three, where one is considered least important and
three considered most important. They are then also asked to rate their satisfaction with the
expression of those skills among their current MBA hires from one to three, with one signifying
their being completely dissatisfied and three being completely satisfied.
In all but the case of academic achievement, importance of a skill averages out as being higher
than satisfaction with a skill. Four skills in particular stand out as being considered especially
important; communications skills, interpersonal skills, strategic thinking, and leadership skills.
Clearly, soft skills are considered a key part of the MBA value proposition among employers and
they take on MBAs because they expect to get someone who is both well-versed in technicali-
ties and capable of leading a team.
While employers do value skills such as corporate social responsibility and multilingual ability
(as both these skills average over 2.0 in terms of importance), the most sought-after skills tend
to be the less technical ones. Notably, relevant experience is considered more important than
academic achievement. Prospective MBAs can learn from this; MBA programs with a focus on
leadership, for example, are likely to provide an edge in the post-MBA hiring market.
Academic Achievement
E-Business
Entrepreneurship
Finance Skills
International Awareness
Interpersonal Skills
IT/Computer Skills
Leadership skills
Marketing
Multilingual
RelevantExperience
Strategic Thinking
Communications Skills
Risk Management
Corporate Social Responsibility
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0
Importanceofvs.satisfactionwithskillsinhiresamongMBAemployers(2014-16)
33
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5.2 Challenges faced by employers when hiring MBAs
“Thetranslationofacademictheorytobusinessresults.Thereisnosubstituteforexperience!”
This was a fairly common sentiment. As noticed earlier, while academic work is arguably the
defining feature of the MBA, relevant experience in a field and business acumen are more sought
after. Although this may not be a surprise, it serves to underline the importance of internships
and other work placements undertaken during MBA programs.
“Unrealisticsalaryrequirements.”
Another reasonably frequent point and a tricky one to resolve. A key motivator for studying an
MBA is climbing the salary scale at a quickened rate, and this becomes all the more important
given the financial investment made in MBA tuition fees. Sources like the QS TopMBA.com Jobs
& Salary Trends Report can help provide job-seeking MBAs with information that can peg their
salary expectations at an appropriate level.
“TheywanttobeCEOontheirfirstday!”
Ambition is essential within business. Given the significant monetary and time investments
made in order to acquire the degree, it’s no surprise that those who take on the challenge
are ambitious themselves. Moreover, as seen elsewhere in this section many businesses hire
MBAs for leadership, strategy and management roles. While an MBA isn’t a ticket for immediate
admission to a board position, it provides a great opportunity to enter respected businesses in
a leadership role – CEO duties can come a few years down the line…
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34
5.3 Years of work experience sought
Year-by-year, preferred levels of work
experience among MBA employers remain
fairly consistent. Generally speaking,
employers prefer to hire MBAs with
between three and five years of prior work
experience. However, a significant number
of employers from the US & Canada are
more open to someone with between
one and three years of experience under
their belts. Latin American employers are
the most likely to value those with more
than five years of experience – 40% of
respondents from the region look for MBA
hires who exceed this threshold.
When we aggregate responses from 2014-
16 across all regions, we see that 31%
look for MBAs with three or fewer years’
experience, while another 31% look for
those with more than five years’ experience
and 38% prefer a midrange of between three
and five years of post-MBA work experience.
5% 26% 38% 20% 11%
6% 22% 39% 22% 11%
6% 27% 37% 20% 9%
2014
2015
2016
PreferredYearsofPost-MBAWorkExperience
Yearsofworkexperiencesoughtbyregion,2014-16
Region 0-1 Years >1-3 Years >3-5 Years >5-8 Years >8+ Years
Middle East & Africa 8% 22% 41% 18% 10%
Asia-Pacific 8% 26% 37% 19% 10%
Eastern Europe 2% 26% 40% 26% 6%
Latin America 2% 19% 38% 27% 13%
US & Canada 2% 35% 42% 11% 9%
Western Europe 8% 23% 35% 23% 10%
Grand Total 6% 25% 38% 21% 10%
0-1 Years > 1-3 Years > 3-5 Years > 5-8 Years > 8+ Years
35
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5.4 Functional roles offered to MBAs
Role 2016 2015 2014
Consultant 34% 34% 34%
E-commerce 10% 10% 10%
Finance - Advisory 25% 23% 22%
Finance - Other 38% 42% 36%
General Management 40% 37% 36%
IT / Technology 26% 20% 25%
Marketing 33% 38% 38%
Operations / Manufacturing 22% 23% 23%
Other Roles 10% 6% 7%
Sales / Business Development 26% 28% 30%
Strategic Planning 47% 44% 44%
Supply Chain / Logistics 19% 18% 17%
Role 2014-16
Consultant 34%
E-commerce 10%
Finance - Advisory 23%
Finance - Other 39%
General Management 37%
IT / Technology 23%
Marketing 37%
Operations / Manufacturing 23%
Other Roles 7%
Sales & Development 28%
Strategic Planning 45%
Supply Chain / Logistics 18%
We asked our respondents what functional
roles they were hiring MBAs into. In this, they
were able to select multiple options. In line
with the professed importance of strategic
thinking as an MBA skill, strategic planning
roles proves to be the function in which
MBAs were most commonly employed. This
is followed by non-advisory finance roles,
general management (in which strategic
thinking and soft skills in general are of great
importance) and marketing. Consultancy
is not only a commonly sought role, but a
consistent one too – it has been chosen by
34% of respondents each year.
E-commerce is the least important skill
according to our respondents, and with
the exception of the loosely termed ‘other
roles’, e-commerce positions are the least-
commonly offered MBA role too. Generally
speaking, technical roles are far less
frequently on offer than management-
based roles. Not only is e-commerce rarely
offered, but supply chain/logistics, IT/
technology and operations/manufacturing
are all offered as MBA roles by fewer than
25% of respondents, too. This trend has only
grown in 2016, as general management and
strategic planning have become even more
widely utilized as MBA roles, while marketing
roles have been offered less frequently.
On the whole, the functional roles on
offer to MBAs today are a reflection of the
ever-growing trend of recruiting MBAs
primarily for leadership-based, managerial
and strategic roles.
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36
Organization Size Definition
Large enterprise More than 2,500 employees 37.0%
Enterprise business 1,000 - 2,499 employees 9.4%
Mid to large-sized business 500 - 999 employees 8.6%
Medium-sized business 100 – 499 employees 16.0%
Small business 10 – 99 employees 20.5%
Micro-business 1-9 employees 8.6%
6.EmployerRespondentProfiles
Regional breakdown of MBA employer respondents
Employer responses by size of organization, 2016
Employer responses by industry 2014-2016
Middle East & Africa 5%
Asia-Pacific 38%
Eastern Europe 6%
Latin America 14%
US & Canada 13%
Western Europe 24%
Total responses 4,093
UtilitiesTravel / Leisure / Hospitality
Transportation / DistributionTelecoms
RetailRecruitment / HR services
PublicSector/Govt./NonprofitPharmaceuticals / Biotech & Healthcare
OtherMetals / Mining
Media / Entertainment & ArtsManufacturing/Engineering
LawIT / Computer Services
Financial Services / BankingEnergy
Electronics / High TechnologyEducation
Consumer GoodsConsulting/ProfessionalServices
Construction / PropertyAerospace/Defense
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
37
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0 100 200 300 400 500 600
MediapartnersfortheQSGlobalEmployerSurvey
iQuesta 1er Emploi, Stage & Alternance
Asia-Pacific Europe US & Canada Latin America
Finance Goldman Sachs Barclays Bank of America Merrill Lynch
BBVA
Standard Chartered Bank
Capgemini Blackrock Compañía Internacional de Seguros
Citibank HSBC JP Morgan Chase Citibank
Consulting Edanz Group Ltd. KPMG Deloitte Ernst & Young
Nexia TS Bain & Company Accenture Simon-Kucher & Partners
Mu Sigma Inc PwC Sage Everis Group
Technology Samsung Ericsson Amazon Nextel
LG IBM Wolfram Research Arrow Electronics
Acer Dell Elemica ATOS
Industry & non-professional services
Louis Vuitton Ocado Rolls Royce Adidas
Johnson & Johnson Shell Huffington Post Coca Cola
Dow Chemical Pfizer BP America Unilever
Sample of recent employer respondents by region, 2014-16
QS Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd
QS Quacquarelli Symonds was founded in 1990 and has established itself as the leading global provider of specialist higher education and careers information and solutions. Education and
career decisions are too important to leave to chance, so QS ensures that candidates have access to the best tools and the best independent expert information before making a decision.
QS organizes the largest business education event in the world, the QS World MBA Tour and boasts an extensive product range including print and online publications. It produces a range of annual primary research reports including the QS TopMBA.com Applicant Survey, the QS TopMBA.com Jobs and Salary Trends Report and the QS Global 200 Business Schools Report, as well as the
globally renowned QS World University Rankings®.
Website: www.TopMBA.com
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