According to GMAC’s 17^th annual Corporate Recruiters Survey report, global MBA hiring remains strong with 81% of responding companies planning to hire MBA graduates in 2018.

“This dip…is potentially a response to immigration regulations”

However, while in the Asia Pacific region hiring projections for MBA grads remain strong (90%), US employers’ intent to hire international business school graduates has softened this year.

Almost half (47%) of US companies surveyed said they plan to or are willing to hire international talent in 2018 – down from 55% that had such plans in 2017.

In comparison, about the same percentage of European employers plan to or are willing to hire international talent in 2018 (65%) as 2017 (64%).

GMAC president and CEO Sangeet Chowfla said the “softening” in the in the intent to hire grads in the US and Europe reflect prevailing political and student mobility issues.

“This dip in stated intent by US employers to hire international graduates is potentially a response to the changes – or potential changes – to visa and immigration regulations,” said Chowfla.

“Even though H1-B visa rules haven’t yet changed, there is a perception that they might change in the near future, and some employers may be waiting to see what will happen.”

“The jobs market in the US right now is robust, and companies are constantly having to evaluate their prospects and how best to fill their available roles with strong talent.”

Additional findings of the survey revealed that more than half (52%) of companies said they plan to increase MBA starting base salaries this year.

The projected median base starting salary for recent MBA graduates in the US in 2018 is US$105,000, compared with US$85,000 for direct-from-industry new hires and US$65,000 for bachelor’s degree new hires.

The full GMAC Corporate Recruiters Survey survey can be viewed here.