Employer Perspectives on the Skills Needed by Business School Graduates: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

Business is consistently among the most popular college majors in the United States. In order to better understand the skills business employers believe recent business school graduates need to possess and the degree to which business graduates are prepared for the workplace, this study reviewed the literature pertaining to employers’ perceptions of the skills needed by recent business school graduates and the degree to which business graduates possess these skills. This literature review provides insight into the skills business employers are considering when assessing business graduates for possible employment opportunities. Sources were reviewed and analyzed for reoccurring ideas or themes in the literature. Three themes emerged from the review: (a) the skills desired by business employers, (b) the skills gap between competencies required by business employers and those possessed by graduating business students, and (c) the need to align business school curricula with the needs of the workplace. Suggestions for institutions and future research are offered based on the emergent themes.