MBA Job Market Softens Again As Postings Fall, Consulting & Tech Decline

The MBA job market weakened again in fall 2025, with fewer job postings, continued declines in consulting and technology hiring, and worsening conditions for international students, according to a new survey of 74 business schools.

The Fall Full-time MBA Program Recruiting Trends Survey, conducted by the Career Services & Employer Alliance, shows a third consecutive year of recruiting headwinds for full-time MBA programs, even as hiring shifts toward smaller employers and technology-driven processes.

Nearly half of surveyed schools (48%) reported a decline in full-time job postings on their internal job boards, up from 38% a year earlier. Declines were also more common in off-campus and informal job postings, with 31% of schools reporting decreases, compared to 24% in 2024.

CONSULTING, TECH CONTINUE TO SLIDE

On-campus recruiting remained under pressure as well. Thirty-nine percent of schools reported fewer on-campus interview opportunities, roughly in line with the prior year, while just 16% saw an increase.

Industry-level data shows a continuation of trends that have reshaped MBA recruiting since 2023.

Financial services (34% of schools reporting increases) and healthcare (31%) again led gains in hiring activity. But consulting and government saw the steepest declines, with 46% and 48% of schools, respectively, reporting decreases. Technology also posted a significant drop, with 38% of schools seeing reduced hiring.

At the same time, the types of employers hiring MBAs continue to shift. Small companies and startups posted the largest increases in recruiting activity for the third straight year, while large companies – those with more than 500 employees – showed the biggest declines (35%).

AI HIRING TOOLS SURGE, TRADITIONAL CHANNELS FALL

CSEA’s report points to a rapid transformation in how employers recruit MBA talent.

Nearly three-quarters of schools (74%) reported increased use of AI-powered pre-screening interview tools, extending a growth trend that began in 2020. Employer use of virtual interviewing technologies also rose sharply, with 57% of schools reporting increased adoption.

Meanwhile, several traditional recruiting channels continued to erode. Resume book requests, internship-to-full-time conversion rates, and in-person multi-school events each declined at 39% of schools. Hiring tied to diversity conferences also fell, with 56% of schools reporting decreases.

Student engagement patterns are shifting in response. One-on-one coaching – both in-person and virtual – saw the largest increases, along with career treks and recruiter coffee chats. Participation in career fairs and information sessions, by contrast, continued to decline.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS FACE TOUGHER OUTLOOK

The job market remains especially difficult for international MBA students.

Eighty-three percent of schools reported a decline in full-time job opportunities for students without permanent work authorization, up from 71% in 2024. Internship opportunities also fell, with 67% of schools reporting decreases.

The data points to a widening gap in recruiting outcomes, even as international enrollment remains a significant share of MBA cohorts at many programs.

The survey, conducted in early 2026 and drawing responses from a broad mix of public and private institutions – including many top-ranked programs – reflects a market still recalibrating after the post-pandemic hiring surge.

Find the full CSEA survey report here.

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