Each year, GMAC conducts a year-end follow-up poll of employers who participate in the Corporate Recruiters Survey. This poll provides insight into how economic changes and global events affected companies’ hiring and gathers early data on their hiring plans in the year to come. The purpose is to provide participating employers with benchmarking statistics and provide business schools and students with an advance look at job market prospects.

In 2008, 257 employers representing 220 companies responded to the survey. Of these, 82% responded from companies in the United States. Those outside the United States responded mainly from the European Union.

2008 Year-End Employer Poll Results

Key Findings

• 27% of respondents said their companies were either highly or extremely affected by the global economic slowdown in 2008, but 38% reported that their firms were slightly or not at all affected.
• The downturn had the biggest impact on manufacturing and finance and accounting firms; the least on energy and utility companies, as well as nonprofit and government organizations.
• Employers expect that it will be more difficult to cope with expected economic turmoil in 2009.
• Among the companies that knew their 2009 hiring plans, 69% report that they will or probably will hire new MBAs. This percentage is almost the same as the percentage of companies that actually hired MBAs in 2008.

For More Information

If you have questions about the Year-End Employer Poll or the Corporate Recruiters Survey, please contact Marina Murray at +1-703-245-0648 or research@gmac.com.