The demand for master’s degrees in business is rising – are you ready?

If you weren’t already considering a master’s degree in a business-related field, you might change your mind after learning that the number of companies planning to hire business school graduates in 2018 is on the rise.

In fact, according to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) Corporate Recruiters Survey, companies across the world plan to hire graduates of master’s programs in business administration, management, finance and accounting this year – all of which you can pursue at the University of Florida Warrington College of Business. We broke down the demand, industries and regions that business master’s degrees are most sought-after by recruiters from the GMAC Corporate Recruiters Survey to help you decide which program is the right option for you.

MBA

• Of all of the business master’s degrees, MBAs are the most sought-after by companies surveyed. Four in five companies, about 81 percent, plan to hire MBA graduates in 2018.
• Of those looking to hire, most are located in the Asia Pacific region, which includes countries like Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand. A total of 90 percent of companies in the Asia Pacific region said they plan to hire MBAs in 2018.
• MBAs are also the most in-demand of the master’s degrees in the United States.
• Fortune 100, 500 and publicly traded companies are the best bet for MBA graduates, with 9 in 10 of these companies responding that they plan to hire MBAs in 2018.
• MBA degrees are most in demand among companies in industries like health care, technology and energy/utilities, with 93 percent, 89 percent and 85 percent of companies responding they’re planning on hiring MBA graduates.
• The majority of MBA graduates will be placed in strategic positions according to the responding companies.
• Companies in the United States plan to offer a median starting base salary of $105,000 to MBA graduates.
• Most employers plan on bringing on MBA interns in 2018, especially in the Asia Pacific region and the United States.
• Of the job functions that employers were most looking to fill, marketing, finance and human resources were among the top – all three in which UF MBA’s Full-Time program offers concentrations, along with strategy, supply chain and real estate.

Master of Science in Management

• Master of Science in Management (MSM) graduates are the second-most sought-after degree-holders among responding employers, with 53 percent saying they plan to hire MSMs.
• Like with MBAs, the Asia Pacific region is most interested in hiring MSMs, with 7 in 10 companies responding MSM graduates were the degree-holders they were planning on hiring. Europe and Latin America follow Asia Pacific, with 72 percent and 69 percent, respectively, looking to hire MSMs.
• MSMs are most in-demand at Fortune 100, 500 and publicly traded companies.
• The strongest demand for hiring MSMs comes from the health care, consulting, products/services and manufacturing industries.
• The majority of MSMs will be placed in operational positions according to the responding companies.

Master of Science in Finance

• Master of Science in Finance (MSF) graduates are the third highest in-demand degree-holders among responding corporate recruiters, with 46 percent of companies responding they plan to hire MSF graduates in 2018.
• Latin American companies top the list of those looking to hire MSF graduates, closely followed by Europe, with 67 percent and 57 percent, respectively, indicating they plan to hire MSF graduates in 2018.
• Similar to MBAs and MSMs, MSF graduates are most in-demand at Fortune 100, 500 and publicly-traded companies.
• Among larger companies, those in the finance/accounting, manufacturing and energy/utilities industries have the most hiring demand for MSF graduates.

Master in Accounting

• Master of Accounting (MAcc) graduates are the fourth-most sought-after degree-holders among responding employers, with 41 percent saying they plan to hire those with MAcc degrees.
• Companies in Europe and the United States are the top places looking to hire MAcc graduates in 2018, with 44 percent and 43 percent of companies responding, respectively.
• As in past years, larger companies rather than smaller companies plan to hire MAcc graduates, with 63 percent of companies with 10,000 or more employees responding they plan to hire these graduates.
• The finance and manufacturing industries are the top two industries planning to hire MAcc graduates in 2018.

The demand for master’s degrees in business is growing, and the Warrington College of Business offers some of the top program options in the nation and world. Whether you choose the No. 1 Master of Science in Management, No. 5 Full-Time MBA program, No. 5 Online MBA program, No. 8 Master of Accounting or No. 10 Master of Science in Finance, the University of Florida Warrington College of Business has all the most in-demand degrees.

Learn more about UF MBA, the Master of Science in Management, the William R. Hough Master of Science in Finance, or the Master of Accounting at the Warrington College of Business.