MBA salaries to increase in 2014

A wage increment is expected for business graduates in 2014, as the hiring landscape looks to be positive in the New Year.

The "2013 Year End Poll of Employees" by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) recently reported more than half (56%) of employers plan to increase base salaries for MBA graduates next year.

The growth in income will mainly be either on the pace of income (45%), or above it (11%).

The report, which surveyed 211 employers worldwide, also found very few employers (2%) plan to decrease base starting salaries for any candidate type as compared to 2013.

In addition, it highlighted 72% of employers expect to hire MBA graduates in 2014, a 1% increase from the number of MBA graduates hired by employers last year.

Specifically, master in management candidates were reported to be the most preferred MBA hires, with 42% of employers planning to hire them.

A preference for master in accounting, and master of finance followed, coming in at 36% and 35% respectively.

And just to put a cherry on top, internship opportunities were also found to be "plentiful" for MBAs in the coming year.

Out of those polled, 61% of employers said they planned to expand internship opportunities to MBA students.

"Internships continue to be less available for students in master-level programs in management, accounting, and finance, and other specialised business master's programmes," the report said.