However, a new survey of leading employers carried out by GMAC challenges these perceptions. The 2025 Corporate Recruiters Survey, reveals that, despite the reputation of Gen Z that often appears in media, most employers find that Gen Z business school graduates are just as professional as previous generations.
The report—which surveyed over 1,100 recruiters across 46 countries, two-thirds of which were with Fortune 100 or 500 employers—also reveals that companies remain confident that studying at business school prepares graduates for success in their organizations. It also notes that, in the face of rapid technological advancements such as AI, business schools are providing more relevant skills than ever to young professionals.
Perception vs reality: The professionalism of Gen Z
The GMAC report finds that Gen Z business school graduates are just as professional as their predecessors, despite the labels often attached to this generation of workers.
When asked to evaluate graduates based on the four pillars of professionalism—reliability, respectfulness, accountability, and professional appearance—an impressive 61% of employers across industries such as finance, accounting, and manufacturing said recent business school graduates exhibit the same levels of workplace etiquette as the graduates who came before them.
Employers in the energy/utilities and technology sectors were among the most positive, with 51% and 47%, respectively, agreeing with the statement: “Recent business school graduates demonstrate the same level of professionalism as graduates from previous years.”
However, just under a quarter of recruiters in more client-facing industries—20% in consulting and 24% in health care/pharmaceuticals— disagreed with the statement, indicating that Gen Z’s professional performance are viewed less favorably in certain sectors.
Regionally, there was also some variation. In the US, just under half (46%) of employers expressed the same level of confidence in recent graduates’ professionalism compared to previous cohorts. Meanwhile, Eastern Europe had the highest share of employers who disagreed (22%) and strongly disagreed (2%) with this notion. This further indicates that perceptions of Gen Z in the workplace may be influenced by cultural or regional expectations.
Employer trust in business education supports Gen Z
Global employers’ confidence in the ability of business education to prepare students for success surged in last year’s report. In 2025, that confidence remained relatively stable. Nearly all employers expressed at least some level of trust in business education: overall 35% revealed high levels of confidence—a small dip from 42% the previous year. Meanwhile, those identifying as ‘confident’ rose slightly, from 47% to 50%.
These trends held steady across industries and regions, with only 1% of respondents reporting ‘no confidence’ in business school in 2025. This continued employer trust in the value of business school to prepare students for success coincides with growing numbers of Gen Z graduates entering the workforce, reinforcing that they possess the essential skills and professionalism valued in the world of business today.
When asked why employers were confident in recent business school graduates, the most common response was their strong communication skills, cited by 66% of recruiters—a reason that has remained top of the list since 2020, when it was chosen by 69%.
Employers are also increasingly pointing to innovation and tech-readiness as reasons for their confidence. The share who stated that b-school graduates “tend to be innovative” rose from 36% in 2020 to 52% in 2025. Likewise, those who mentioned the ability to “navigate the challenges of technological disruption” increased from 27% to 40%. Technological proficiency and innovative capability are qualities often associated with Gen Z.
Tech transformation to benefit Gen Z business graduates
In 2025, a new question was added to the GMAC survey to reflect the increasing role of technology in the workplace, especially the rapid rise of generative AI.
Employers were asked to what extent they agreed with the statement: “The skills gained through a graduate business degree are more important than before because businesses are adopting new technologies that require business acumen.” Nearly two-thirds of employers overall agreed, with 43% strongly agreeing and 20% agreeing.
Manufacturing employers reported the highest level of agreement (61%)—likely due to the visible impact of AI and other technological advancements in the sector. Nearly half of employers in finance/accounting (49%) and consulting (48%) also agreed that business school skills are becoming more important amid rising technological integration.
Regionally, opinions varied more widely. In the Middle East, an overwhelming 93% of employers agreed or strongly agreed with the statement—with the remaining 7% choosing "neither agree nor disagree." In contrast, just 41% of US employers shared that view, suggesting regional differences in how business education is valued in the face of tech disruption.
For Gen Z graduates, who have grown up in a digital world, this shift signals growing alignment between their strengths and the evolving needs of modern business.
