In a world where nations are battling not just for resources but for brainpower, cultivating the right talent is not just an economic choice but a commitment to shaping the future.
The race for the world’s sharpest minds has intensified, with countries vying to attract, train and retain global achievers. And leading that race, after years of steady ascent, is now a nation that has turned strategic talent-building into an art form.
According to the 2025 Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI), the world’s newest capital of talent is Singapore. As the report puts it, Singapore’s rise “marks a big milestone for both the country and the wider region in the competition for talent”.
How did Singapore top the list?
Singapore ranks among the top ten across four of the index’s six pillars in the report. It leads the world in enabling and retaining talent and also it has strong regulatory support and a high standard of living.
The country is also number one globally in formal education and in “Generalist Adaptive Skills,” which includes digital literacy, innovative thinking and soft skills.
One of the key drivers behind Singapore’s success this year is a sharp improvement in its ability to retain talent. It has moved from thirty-eighth place last year to thirty-first in 2025, helped by better physician density, strong personal rights and high levels of safety.
Europe’s domination
Even with Singapore’s historic rise, high-income European countries continue to dominate the ranking, with seven of the top ten positions. Switzerland, Denmark and Finland sit close together near the top.
Their performance, according to the report, “suggesting a shared focus on enabling and retaining talent through favourable conditions and access to opportunities.” The Nordic region in particular is on the rise.
Denmark has moved from fourth to third place. Finland has climbed from sixth to fourth. And Sweden has made the biggest jump within the top ten, rising from ninth to fifth, showing the region’s strong commitment to investing in talent and innovation.
US plunges in the ranking
United States has experienced a setback in the ranking. The country has dropped from third in 2023 to ninth in this year’s report. Although the country continues to perform strongly in enabling and growing talent, the report notes that “slight declines in the categories of openness and lifelong learning” contributed to its drop.
However, Switzerland may no longer hold the number one position, but it continues to excel in several critical areas of the talent environment.
It records multiple top-five results across the framework, including first in internet access in schools, second in government effectiveness and fourth in AI skills migration. These strong foundations indicate that Switzerland remains one of the most capable and attractive destinations for global professionals.
Importance of AI
The report explains that that the countries that prepare workers for rapid technological change will be the ones that thrive.
As Paul Evans, emeritus professor of organisational behaviour at INSEAD and co-editor of the report, explains in the study, “Economies that cultivate adaptable, cross-functional and AI-literate workforces tend to be better positioned to convert disruption into opportunity and sustain long-term competitiveness.”
Top 10 countries in the 2025 Global Talent Competitiveness Index:
Singapore
Switzerland
Denmark
Finland
Sweden
Netherlands
Norway
Luxembourg
United States
Australia