The Industries and Companies Hiring the Most MBAs in 2021

In September 2020, months after the coronavirus pandemic stalled the global job market, GMAC reported that MBA hiring was finally bouncing back: while at the start of the pandemic only 77 percent of employers planned to hire MBAs, by fall the number had jumped to nearly 90 percent.

And with news of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout improving study abroad prospects for international applicants, it seems that everyone – schools and students alike – has placed their bets in 2021 as the year of recovery for business education and employment.

But how has the coronavirus pandemic changed MBA hiring, and what are the industries and companies MBA graduates should apply to?

Let’s take a closer look.

Technology, finance, and consulting continue to hire MBAs

Multiple surveys have shown that technology, finance, and consulting – the industries that have consistently hired MBAs throughout the years – remained popular areas of employment during the pandemic.

According to research by TransparentCareer, more than 30 percent of jobs aimed at MBAs in 2020 belonged to the tech industry. Compared with the same figures from 2019 and 2018 – where tech jobs for b-school grads amounted to less than 20 percent – it’s clear that the industry has managed to thrive throughout the global economic crisis, positioning itself as a solid career choice for future MBAs.

Of the tech companies hiring the most MBAs in 2020, Google, Microsoft and Amazon emerged as the most consistent employers: all three are expected to hire over 50,000 corporate and technology roles in the US over the next few months.

However, graduates shouldn’t underestimate specialized SMEs across the sector, including AI, data tracking, delivery and logistics firms, whose value continues to skyrocket as the world becomes increasingly more digital.

Finance and consulting are also expected to hire a high number of MBAs throughout 2021.

While new fintechs continue to emerge – and are expected to recruit MBAs for top positions to popularize their solutions –, consulting firms such as McKinsey, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Bain & Company were able to keep hiring stable throughout the pandemic and are set to remain as some of the biggest employers of MBA grads in the following year.

Niche fields to emerge as solid contenders for MBA talent

Another trend brought forward by the coronavirus pandemic is the emergence of niche fields of business that became essential almost overnight.

According to TransparentCareer, more and more MBAs are finding jobs in sectors that have grown massively over the course of 2020, including science, healthcare and pharmaceuticals and agribusiness.

In fact, companies that have seen a sudden increase in profits are turning to b-school talent to resolve many of the challenges brought forward by the pandemic, which they will have to readjust to in 2021 as the vaccine rollout continues.

Entrepreneurship on the rise

While a global economic crisis might not seem like the best time to launch a business, recessions notoriously lead to a spike in new start-ups and other business ventures – and 2020 has been no different.

MBA grads who hope to become their own bosses will likely take advantage of the economic recovery of 2021 – however, it’s imperative that they consider carefully which industries to invest their time and resources in.

Business experts recommend to focus on the sectors that will become essential in a post-COVID world, including e-commerce, automated manufacturing, digital customer service and online entertainment.