New Delhi: The world's most comprehensive survey of trends among MBA employers conducted by the QS TopMBA, an International MBA recruiter, claims that the employers are targeting experienced MBAs while overall demand for MBAs and salaries have remained firm in many markets.

The survey finds that 77% of employers are targeting MBAs with over three years of work experience, while 42% prefer those with five years and above, up from just 16% in 2008.

James Platt, Head of MBA Recruiting at BCG in Europe says, "Before we interview we look for quality work experience with evidence of outperformance throughout."

Demand for younger and pre-experience MBAs is at an all time low with only 2% of employers seeking MBAs with less than 1 year of work experience compared to 11% in 2008.

Nunzio Quacquarelli, Director of the QS World MBA Tour and author of the report, says, "This recession is making employers actively look for MBAs to fix problems or help them expand into emerging markets. Greater focus is being placed on leadership and communication skills. Employers are looking for people with experience who they feel can make a real difference straight away."

The survey also finds an overall 5% decline in worldwide demand for MBAs in 2009. The decline is concentrated in financial services, which show a 10% fall in hiring levels.

The consulting sector defies the recession growing MBA demand by 3%. By contrast, MBA demand in general industry is flat while demand in the technology sector has grown by just 1%.

The report finds the number of MBAs hired in the consulting sector has increased 200% since 2003, while demand in financial services and general industry has increased by over 100% during the same time.

Hence, a relatively small fall in demand in 2009 is not having a big impact on MBA employment rates that remain high in most countries. The USA is the exception, with the majority of US-based MBA employers re-assessing their MBA hiring needs downwards. By contrast demand for MBAs in China and India are at near record levels.

The survey, published by QS Quacquarelli Symonds, organizers of the QS World MBA Tour, also shows MBA salaries are stabilising, after several years of strong growth, but with little evidence of downward pressure.

The average MBA salary reported by MBA employers in the USA and Western Europe is $91,500. The financial services sector still offers the highest total compensation package for MBAs in excess of $130,000 in their first year after graduation, ahead of consulting, IT services, Energy, Telecoms and Mining all of which offer between $115-130,000 per annum.

Local MBA employers offer average salaries of $55,000 in Asia, $53,300 in Latin America and $49,500 in Eastern Europe.

Quacquarelli adds, "Despite the recession, we received our largest ever response from 743 MBA employers, with particularly strong response from Latin America and Asia this year. The MBA is becoming more and more relevant in emerging markets where companies are looking to business educated graduates to assist them in capturing opportunities for growth in the global economy. This is stimulating demand for MBAs from elite Western business schools, but also from the growing number of regional business schools around the world, whose MBAs often command lower salaries."