The University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business, one of Canada’s leading business schools, is facing questions about graduate employment after its MBA program was ranked 99th out of 100 global full-time MBA programs by the Financial Times. It was found that 52% of Sauder MBA graduates reported being employed within three months of completing the program, down from 65% the previous year. It was also reported that 72% of the MBA class is made up of international students. The findings have prompted a broader debate about whether post-secondary education is keeping pace with B.C.’s changing labor market.
Darren Dahl, dean of UBC Sauder School of Business, says the 52% figure needs to be understood in the context of how the Financial Times measures employment. “The ranking looks at employment three months after students complete their academic requirements, while Sauder tracks employment after graduation.” He outlines that full-time MBA students complete their programs in December but graduate the following May, meaning some spend those months travelling, pursuing entrepreneurial ventures or taking planned breaks. “The 52% figure represents a specific point in the employment journey rather than the final employment outcome for the class,” Dean Dahl reveals. According to Sauder, employment typically rises to between 70% and 80% shortly after graduation.
John Rustad, MLA for Nechako Lakes and former leader of the Conservative Party of B.C., says the results reflect a wider disconnect between education and employment. “It tells us the system is out of step with reality,” he emphasizes. He points to the growing impact of artificial intelligence, saying companies are hiring fewer junior employees for routine analytical, writing and administrative work that once provided entry points into white-collar careers. “Meanwhile, the good-paying jobs that are actually available are in the skilled trades and the resource sector. Universities are still turning out degrees for a world of paper-pushing jobs that is shrinking, instead of matching education to the work British Columbians actually need,” MLA Rustad details.
Dean Dahl references broader economic conditions behind the change, including uncertainty created by U.S. tariffs and reduced hiring in consulting, technology and the public sector, which are common destinations for Sauder graduates. At the same time, Sauder says it is adapting its MBA program to prepare students for a labor market increasingly shaped by AI. “Our focus is on preparing students to use AI effectively and responsibly,” Dean Dahl shares, while developing the judgment needed to understand where human responsibility must remain central.
MLA Rustad, however, argues that the challenge extends beyond curriculum. He specifically believes international enrolment should reflect B.C.’s capacity to provide jobs, housing, and other opportunities. “You can’t keep bringing in large numbers of international students when there aren’t enough jobs or affordable places to live,” he says. He has called for stronger links between public funding, employment outcomes, and areas where employers are hiring.
The Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills says the labor-market challenge extends well beyond MBA programs. B.C.’s Labor Market Outlook projects more than one million job openings over the next decade, particularly in health care, technology, construction and clean energy. The province says it is investing $241 million over three years through the Look West strategy to train British Columbians for in-demand trades jobs, alongside $42 million for initiatives including graduate scholarships, short-term training and expanded technology degree programs.
Overall, the debate surrounding Sauder’s ranking ultimately raises a larger question for B.C.: as the economy and the nature of work continue to change, how effectively are universities, government and employers adapting to ensure graduates are prepared for the opportunities ahead?
