Refer China: CEIBS releases MBA 2025 Employment Report

Strong performance in uncertain times.

In 2025, the global career market remains volatile. Employers both in China and around the world are adopting an increasingly pragmatic and cautious approach to recruitment.

Within three months of graduation from CEIBS:

90% of job-seeking MBA graduates had secured employment
80.6% had transitioned into new roles

In 2025, the CEIBS MBA programme has not only maintained solid career performance, but has also maintained its momentum as a global force in management education, retaining its position as #1 in Asia in the Financial Times' global ranking of MBA programmes for the ninth consecutive year. This sustained recognition reflects CEIBS' unwavering commitment to teaching excellence, its integration of global educational standards, and a deep-rooted dedication to the school's core values of "Conscientiousness, Innovation and Excellence".

Report Highlights and Trends

Technology reclaims the lead: A robust and diversified career landscape

Powered by advances in generative AI and industrial digitalisation, the technology sector made a strong comeback in 2025 as the top employment destination for CEIBS MBA graduates, attracting 31.9% of the cohort.

This was followed by the manufacturing, healthcare, consulting, and financial services sectors, which collectively drew 87.5% of CEIBS MBA 2025 graduates. This industry distribution reflects not only broader trends China's economy but also the cross-sector and interdisciplinary strengths that are developed through the CEIBS MBA. Armed with integrated business capabilities and technological savvy, our graduates stand ready to deliver innovative solutions across diverse fields.

Chinese private enterprises on the rise: Domestic employers dominate

Amidst changes in China's private sector landscape, the appetite for versatile, management-savvy talent continues to rise. This year, 59.2% of graduates chose to join private Chinese enterprises, an increase from the previous year's 50% marking a record high amongst recent years.

International graduates unlock global careers via Chinese enterprises

This year's data also shows that an increasing number of international CEIBS MBA graduates are choosing to join globally ambitious Chinese firms, reflecting the widely recognised trend of Chinese enterprises aiming for overseas expansion and their subsequent need for cross-border brand management and regional market development.

Among international candidates who secured employment within three months of graduation, 60% chose to stay on the Chinese mainland. With their multicultural backgrounds and international perspectives, these graduates embody CEIBS' core offering of "China Depth, Global Breadth" and have the capacity to act as bridges and catalysts for connection between China and the rest of the world.

Entrepreneurship on the rise: Turning ideas into action

Beyond traditional employment and career transitions, entrepreneurship continues to appeal to CEIBS MBA graduates. In 2025, 16 graduates launched their own ventures, spanning technology, consumer goods, healthcare, and manufacturing.

These entrepreneurs are applying management expertise gained at CEIBS and leveraging technical backgrounds and industrial insights to identify opportunities in digitalisation, sustainability, and industrial innovation. For them, entrepreneurship is no longer a distant ideal but a practical expression of their vision and skills. Notably, CEIBS recently launched an Innovation & Entrepreneurship Centre and plans to upgrade its MBA eLab into a full-scale Innovation Lab, with the aim of offering structured resources and institutional support for entrepreneurial student and alumni ventures.

Strong salary growth: Capability reflected in market value

This year, CEIBS MBA graduates enjoyed a remarkable average salary increase of 50.5%, marking a significant leap from the previous year. Median salaries also recorded a modest increase. Geographically, the Chinese mainland offered the most competitive returns, with nearly 60% of graduates earning between RMB 339,000 and RMB 610,000. Whether through career transition or promotion in their current companies, our graduates' exceptional capabilities have been clearly recognised and rewarded in the marketplace.

Behind these career results lies a close collaboration between every CEIBS MBA graduate and the CEIBS Career Development Centre (CDC), as well as each students' proactive engagement in planning for their professional future.

From the beginning of the CEIBS MBA programme, students benefit from personalised career coaching, comprehensive resume guidance, and interview support, as well as employer open days, alumni panels, and targeted job recommendations. Amid a shifting market, the CEIBS CDC stands beside students as a trusted partner, providing both professional tools and empathetic guidance through every critical decision.

Meanwhile, CEIBS' extensive and high-quality alumni network continues to serve as an invaluable resource for career insights and connections that empower graduates to navigate the professional world with confidence and perspective.

In an uncertain world, CEIBS MBA graduates have confidently set their course. In an era in which unpredictability has become the norm, true competitiveness lies not in polished CVs, but in the insight and adaptability to make sound judgments, and take decisive action.

Graduation from CEIBS is not a conclusion, but the beginning of a bold new chapter. Armed with the courage and clarity shaped during their MBA, we wish our newest graduates continued success as they embark on this exciting journey.