Rising tide of MBA graduates in manufacturing
The versatility of an MBA degree has always been evident in the range of industries in which the students find work after graduation. Industries such as consulting, finance and technology have traditionally been among popular career choices for many MBA grads. However, in recent years, some parts of the country have seen hikes in the number of MBA graduates taking jobs in manufacturing.
In some cases the trend had to do with a strategic choice some b-schools made in terms of their focus, nonetheless, the result was a revived interest in the manufacturing industry.
The 2015 GMAC Corporate Recruiters Survey shows an increasing demand for MBA graduates among manufacturing employers. According to the report, 81 percent of manufacturing employers said they plan to hire recent MBA graduates, up from 74 percent a year earlier. Among top organizational goals for manufacturers were to improve performance and productivity and reduce cost — many of the efforts typically associated with job functions assigned to MBAs including operations, logistics and finance.
In Missouri, top manufacturing employers include Boeing, Emerson Electric, Honeywell, Northrop Grumman and Johnson Controls. And according to Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC), the June 2015 Manufacturing Labor Market Summary shows over 2,000 job postings in the manufacturing industry during the last 6 months.
Students pursuing an MBA in Entrepreneurial Leadership at William Woods University who may be looking into manufacturing careers post-graduation can use a number of local resources in Missouri to inform or aid their jobs search. Some include: MERIC, Missouri Business Development Program, and William Woods University Career Services.