MUMBAI: With corporates focusing more on growth, employer demand for business school graduates continued to show upward trend this year, as 84 per cent of companies globally, including India, have planned to add new MBAs to their workforce, according to a recent report.

"The MBA, as an area of study valued by employers, is showing more strength than ever with hiring of new graduates projected to rise for the third year in a row," GMAC president and CEO Sangeet Chowfla said.

About 84 per cent of companies worldwide plan to add new MBAs to their workforce from 74 per cent in 2014 and 62 per cent five years ago, according to the survey.

Further, the report reveals that 75 per cent of Asia-Pacific companies, including in India, plan to hire recent MBA graduates compared to 69 per cent in 2014.

The 2015 Corporate Recruiters Survey, conducted annually by the Graduate Management Admission Council in partnership with EFMD and the MBA Career Services & Employer Alliance (MBA CSEA), drew responses from 748 employers in 47 countries around the world, including 46 companies listed in the Fortune 100.

"When companies express a focus on growth, it appears they return to MBA hiring. Whereas in the past, when priorities such as managing the enterprise or cost control were foremost on a company's agenda, employers appeared to favour hiring more specialised graduates," Chowfla said.

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