This question often sparks debate among students and professionals who are deciding their next academic move. The MBA has traditionally been the gold standard for entering the business world, while a PhD is the highest academic qualification one can achieve, usually associated with research, innovation, and specialised expertise. So, are employers now moving away from MBAs and choosing PhDs instead?
The answer is not as black and white as it may seem. Employers do not automatically prefer one degree over the other. Instead, their choices depend on the kind of skills and outcomes they need from employees. A company focused on research, innovation, or highly technical work may lean towards PhD holders. Meanwhile, firms that value leadership, management, and strategy tend to prefer candidates with an MBA. In reality, both degrees continue to hold strong value, but for very different reasons.
Changing Job Market Trends
The job market itself has changed significantly in the last decade, influenced by technology, globalisation, and the need for adaptability. In India, employability among MBA graduates has shown remarkable growth. According to reports, MBA employability has risen from about 47% in 2021 to nearly 78% in 2025. This improvement comes as business schools update their curriculum to include modern topics like data analytics, artificial intelligence, sustainability, and digital transformation. Employers are responding positively because these graduates come with industry-relevant skills.
At the same time, the demand for PhDs has also been on the rise, especially outside of academia. Industries like pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, data science, and policy research actively recruit PhD graduates because they bring depth of expertise, advanced research abilities, and original thinking. Many companies now realise that innovation is key to survival, and PhD holders can help them build that edge.
Globally, a shift is also taking place. Employers are focusing more on skills than just degrees. This means that whether you hold a PhD or an MBA, your ability to apply knowledge, solve problems, and adapt to changing conditions matters more than the title of your degree.
Why Employers Hire PhDs
From an employer’s perspective, hiring a PhD holder means adding a person to the team who has not only mastered a subject but also the process of creating new knowledge.
A PhD candidate spends years working on a single area, learning to handle complex problems, gather and interpret data, and generate solutions that may not yet exist. This mindset is extremely valuable in industries where innovation and research drive growth.
For example, pharmaceutical companies need researchers with PhDs to lead research projects, develop drugs, and file patents. Tech companies working in artificial intelligence or machine learning look for PhD-qualified professionals who can design algorithms and make machines think smarter. Policy organisations and think tanks also rely on PhD graduates to provide well-researched insights into issues like climate change, economics, or healthcare.
Why Employers Hire MBAs
On the other side, MBAs offer something that PhDs often cannot — breadth of knowledge and leadership skills. Employers look to MBA graduates when they want professionals who can see the bigger picture and connect different areas of a business. An MBA holder may not have the technical depth of a PhD, but understands how finance, marketing, operations, and human resources work together to achieve organisational goals.
MBAs are also trained to manage people and projects, making them ideal for leadership positions. Employers value their ability to think strategically, make quick decisions, and adapt to changing market conditions. Unlike PhDs, who may take time to transition from academic research into the business world, MBAs are usually ready to step into managerial or consulting roles from day one.
The versatility of the MBA is another big reason for its popularity. MBA graduates are not limited to one industry. They are found in consulting, finance, technology, e-commerce, healthcare, and even startups. As industries evolve, the ability to move across different sectors becomes a valuable asset, and this is something MBAs are particularly good at.
Industry Preferences: Where Each Fits Best
While employers value both degrees, their preference often depends on the sector. In industries like biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and advanced technology, PhDs are often seen as essential. These sectors need people who can innovate, conduct experiments, and bring technical expertise that others cannot provide.
In contrast, consulting, finance, and corporate leadership roles tend to favour MBAs. Here, the focus is on managing people, driving growth, and making strategic decisions. Companies in these sectors want employees who can quickly understand business challenges and provide solutions that align with organisational goals.
Startups often need a mix of both. A research-heavy startup working on new products may hire PhDs to handle the technical side while bringing in MBAs to scale operations, attract investors, and grow the business. This shows that in many modern companies, both degrees complement each other rather than compete directly.
Career Outcomes: What to Expect
Though career outcomes differ between PhDs and MBAs, both can be rewarding. A PhD often leads to roles in research and development, academia, policy, or highly specialised technical positions. These roles may take longer to secure, but can lead to leadership in innovation and scientific discovery.
An MBA usually opens doors to management positions, consulting, finance, operations, and leadership roles in corporations or startups. These roles often provide faster career progression and higher salaries in the early stages.
Both degrees can lead to prestigious positions, but the timelines and paths differ. PhDs trade time and depth for expertise, while MBAs trade breadth and leadership potential for quicker employability. Now, the most important question is? Where to pursue both these courses? The answer is Shoolini University. Let’s find out why.
Why Shoolini University Stands Out for Both MBA and PhD Aspirants
If you’re wondering where to pursue these degrees, Shoolini University, located in the scenic Kasauli Hills, offers the best options in India. Ranked the No. 1 private university by QS and Times Higher Education World University Rankings, and accredited with an A+ rating by NAAC, Shoolini has built a strong reputation for both management education and research.
Shoolini Business School at Shoolini University offers an MBA program with many specialisations. This two-year fully residential program blends classroom learning with strong industry exposure. Its marketing stream covers useful modern areas such as digital marketing, brand management and retail, while other MBA tracks include finance (with specialisations like FinTech, venture capital and derivatives), human resources, pharma & healthcare, and business analytics. Shoolini MBA is UGC-approved and NBA-accredited.
More importantly, the program partners with global bodies like LIBF, NISM, Satori Paths and TUV SUD and holds AACSB membership ties — all of which help students gain internationally relevant skills and certifications.
The university’s ‘Mission 130’ aims for 100% placements, and typical placement pipelines show that around 30% of graduates join top companies, such as Deloitte, Accenture, Toyota, ICICI, and Hindustan Unilever. Students also get paid internships during the program and curated skill-building like the Stanford-inspired SPRINT Bootcamp, Advanced Training Program, personalised mentorship and leadership coaching at the Magdalena Mook Centre. For MBAs, this means better evidence of work-readiness, which directly affects MBA career outcomes.
On the PhD side, Shoolini offers research across a broad canvas: engineering, management, biotechnology, pharmacy, environmental science, physics, chemistry, mathematics, yoga and humanities. Researchers benefit from over 104 labs and Centres of Excellence in AI, cancer research and food testing; the campus hosts Himachal’s first commercial food testing lab backed by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
Support from agencies such as DST, DBT, SERB and ICMR, plus partnerships with 250+ international universities, gives PhD scholars both resources and global visibility. Thanks to the ‘One Student One Patent’ policy, Shoolini has filed over 1,700 patents — a strong sign that its research aims for real-world impact. Each PhD student receives personalised supervision and guidance through a Research Advisory Committee, and all PhD programs follow UGC guidelines.
Therefore, studying both a PhD and an MBA from Shoolini comes with great advantages.
Final Thoughts
Employers are not choosing PhDs over MBAs or vice versa. They are choosing the skills and perspectives they need most for their business. For some, that means hiring a PhD to lead research. For others, it means hiring an MBA to drive strategy. The smartest path is to identify your long-term goals and choose a degree that best aligns with them. Shoolini University is a leader in both management education and research. So why wait? Begin your journey as a corporate leader or a scientist today with Shoolini University.
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