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Singapore: A Rising Star in Talent Competitiveness

In a remarkable shift in the global talent landscape, Singapore has leapfrogged Switzerland to secure the first position in the latest Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI). This achievement marks a significant moment for the city-state, especially as it is the first time Singapore has topped this annual ranking since its inception by INSEAD in 2013. The GTCI serves as a crucial framework for assessing the effectiveness of talent policies and workforce development across different nations.

Unveiling the GTCI 2025 Findings

The 2025 iteration of the GTCI revealed that Singapore’s workforce is not only adaptable but also equipped with essential digital skills and innovative mindsets, making it well-prepared for the demands of the AI era. The theme of this year's report, "Resilience in Disruption," emphasizes how various economies build robust talent development systems capable of withstanding shocks and challenges. The index evaluated 135 economies based on 77 indicators, encompassing soft skills, talent concentration in AI, and six critical areas: conditions, appeal, growth, retention, professional and technical skills, and general adaptive skills.

Felipe Monteiro, Academic Director of GTCI and a Professor of Strategy at INSEAD, highlights the importance of transforming adversity into innovation and adaptability. The notion of resilience extends beyond mere recovery from crises; it embodies the capacity to move forward amidst challenges.

According to Lily Fang, Dean of Research and Innovation at INSEAD, the GTCI report is not merely a competition among nations. Instead, it provides insightful reflections for leaders on integrating advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence, into human progress initiatives.

Strong Academic and Workforce Development Strategies

Singapore's notable strengths stem from its unwavering focus on evolving its educational systems and taking proactive steps in workforce development. This includes fostering a workforce characterized by soft skills, digital literacy, and innovative thinking—traits that are indispensable in today's rapidly changing environment. Notably, Singapore also improved its talent retention rank, moving up seven positions to 31st place.

Paul Evans, Professor Emeritus of Organizational Behavior at INSEAD, points out that economies producing adaptable, interdisciplinary, and AI-oriented workers are better positioned to turn disruption into opportunities and maintain competitiveness. The findings from this year's GTCI underscore that talent competitiveness is not solely attributed to income levels but is also significantly influenced by strategic policy settings, quality institutions, and effective mobilization of human capital.

GTCI 2025 Top Rankings

The GTCI 2025 highlights the following top-performing countries:

1. Singapore
2. Switzerland
3. Denmark
4. Finland
5. Sweden
6. Netherlands
7. Norway
8. Luxembourg
9. USA
10. Australia

The report also informs that despite the dominance of high-income European economies, there has been a decline in the rankings of several major economies, including the USA, which dropped from third to ninth place.

Key Takeaways from the GTCI Report

One of the central messages from the GTCI 2025, audited by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, is that a pivotal factor in the race for talent lies in whether economies can convert investments into tangible results. Countries like Israel, along with Singapore and South Korea, have demonstrated a remarkable ability to achieve better talent outcomes despite relatively modest resources. This finding is also consistent with some lower-middle-income countries, such as Tajikistan, Kenya, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, which have shown promising foundations for talent development.

According to Evans, economies that align their educational, labor, and innovation systems to support the growth of adaptive talent can achieve high performance even with relatively low income levels.

Regional Analysis: Who’s Leading Where?

Regionally, the 2025 results did not yield many surprises. Europe continues to dominate the rankings, claiming 18 out of the top 25 spots, inclusive of major economies like Germany (17th), France (19th), and the United Kingdom (12th). In Asia and Oceania, while Australia (10th) and New Zealand (18th) performed better in talent retention, they lagged behind Singapore when it comes to general adaptive skills.

China's decline from 40th to 53rd place reflects a less favorable business environment and labor market, though the report acknowledges that a lack of available data may have also contributed to this outcome.

North America's capacity to cultivate and apply skilled talent across sectors is evident in the strong placements of the USA (9th) and Canada (14th), despite a setback for the USA from previous years.

In North Africa and Western Asia, Israel holds the highest position at 23rd, while the United Arab Emirates (25th) excelled in attracting talent and developing skills but lagged in specialized skills. The landscape in Latin America and the Caribbean finds Chile (39th) leading, followed by Uruguay (42nd) and Costa Rica (44th), while major economies of the region—Brazil and Mexico—failed to break into the top fifty.

Rafael Escalona Reynoso, CEO of the Portulans Institute, adds that in an era of rapid technological changes and geopolitical uncertainties, having reliable talent indicators is more critical than ever, as they provide clarity in evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of nations concerning talent development.

The continued evolution of adaptive skills—collaborative thinking, interdisciplinary innovation, and rapid navigation in technology-driven environments—will increasingly determine the competitiveness of countries, as highlighted by GTCI in 2025. This reality, encapsulated in the current report, provides essential insights for policymakers and business leaders alike.