The tech industry never used to be the main target for MBAs and most graduates flocked towards the consulting and finance industries. That has since changed, and tech companies are now ranked among the world’s best employers and are actively recruiting MBA graduates.
How technology became a top MBA destination
The tech sector was already on a growth trajectory in recent years, with more and more of daily life shifting online. According to a 2025 report by IDC, global spending on digital transformation is projected to reach nearly USD 4 trillion by 2028, accounting for approximately 70% of total information and communications technology spending.
Moreover, tech companies are firmly established as top-tier MBA employers and the latest data shows this is not slowing down. According to GMAC’s 2026 Corporate Recruiters Survey, 78% of employers globally planned to hire the same number of MBA graduates or more than the previous year. Notably, more than half of tech employers say that business-degree skills have become more valuable in the context of hybrid and remote working environments. Profits at major tech companies such as Meta, Amazon, Alphabet, Apple, and Microsoft have reflected this growth in leadership and business capability needs.
Also read: The MBA as a Bridge to the Real Business World
Are tech companies hiring more MBAs
Technology remains a popular career destination for MBA graduates, even as competition for jobs intensifies. The wave of tech layoffs in 2022-2023, which affected hundreds of thousands of roles at Amazon, Meta, Google, and Microsoft, also cooled MBA hiring volumes at the largest firms for a period. Since then, the sector has stabilised and hiring has resumed across a broader range of tech companies. According to Bloomberg’s 2025-26 Best Business Schools ranking, the technology sector hired 1,968 graduates from 95 participating business schools, making it the third-largest hiring sector after consulting and finance.
Individual business schools also report strong interest in technology careers. At MIT Sloan School of Management (US), 23.3% of the MBA Class of 2025 entered the technology industry, making it the second-most popular career destination after consulting. Major employers included Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and NVIDIA.
For MBA graduates interested in technology, opportunities remain promising, although an MBA alone is no guarantee of employment. As companies increasingly seek professionals who can combine business strategy, leadership, and technological expertise, graduates who develop these skills may be particularly well positioned to compete for roles in the industry.
Also read: How to Use LinkedIn the MBA Way (And Not Waste Your Time)
What skills do tech companies look for in MBA graduates
Technical skills, like coding, surely are in demand at tech companies, but it is always good to focus on developing people managing skills. As it turns out the tech industry holds skills developed in business school in high value.
Among the top five most wanted skills for MBA graduates by the technology industry, listed in the GMAC Corporate Recruiters Survey, are:
- Strategic thinking (70%)
- Adaptability (69%)
- Problem-solving (67%)
- Technology/IT skills (67%)
- Data analysis and interpretation (65%)
The tech industry recognises that MBAs have a wide array of skills by the time they graduate. With training in marketing, data analysis and finance, it makes them a good fit for any tech firm, with the potential to push new boundaries as future leaders.
“The thing that makes MBA-trained candidates stand out is their ability to deliver where AI cannot: showcasing strategic thinking, cross-functional leadership, and stakeholder communication skills that purely technical candidates might lack,” says Robert Preda, Careers Consultant at Imperial Business School (UK).
At the same time, the rise of AI is reshaping what tech companies expect from MBA graduates. According to GMAC, AI-related skills are forecast to enter the top 5 most valued competencies within five years. At the same time, 40% of tech sector employers say they plan to use AI to automate some entry-level roles, the highest share of any industry. This makes the strategic, leadership, and communication skills MBAs bring even more distinctive and more in demand.
Also read: The AI Skills Employers Now Expect from MBA Graduates
We are living through a major technological transformation and tech companies that invest in strong business leadership stand to gain the most from it. The question is no longer whether tech companies care about MBAs – it’s whether your MBA programme is preparing you for what tech companies need next.
Originally published: 9 February 2022
Updated: 20 October 2026
