Singapore Tops the Global Talent Competitiveness Index 2025: What It Means for Workers and Companies

This article is written in English for readers in Singapore. Chinese and Japanese translations are available on our website. 

Singapore Is Now the World’s No 1 Talent Economy

Singapore has claimed the top position globally in the 2025 Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI), overtaking Switzerland for the first time since the ranking was launched in 2013. The index evaluates 135 economies using 77 indicators across six pillars: Enable, Attract, Grow, Retain, Vocational and Technical Skills, and Generalist Adaptive Skills.

This result affirms Singapore’s status as one of the most resilient, future-ready and talent-competitive economies in the world.

For companies and workers in Singapore, the message is clear. The country’s talent ecosystem is strong, but expectations around adaptability, skills and performance are rising quickly.

Why Singapore Took the No. 1 Spot

1. Global Leader in Adaptive Skills

Singapore ranked first worldwide in Generalist Adaptive Skills, supported by a workforce that is:

• Comfortable with digital tools and technology
• Equipped with soft skills such as communication and collaboration
• Open to innovation and cross-functional work

In a period where AI and automation are reshaping jobs, these capabilities help workers in Singapore stay employable and help companies stay competitive.

2. A Strong System for Education and Lifelong Learning

The GTCI report highlights Singapore for the constant evolution of its education system and its forward-looking approach to nurturing an innovation-driven workforce.

Key strengths include:

• Strong foundations in formal education
• Government support for mid-career and lifelong learning
• Programmes such as SkillsFuture that encourage workers to reskill and upskill
• High digital readiness and technology adoption in workplaces

This ecosystem helps workers adapt to disruption and gives companies a deeper pool of skilled talent to draw from.

3. Improved Ability to Retain Talent

One of the reasons Singapore rose to No 1 is a marked improvement in talent retention. The country climbed seven places, from 38th in the previous report to 31st in 2025.

Contributing factors include:

• High personal safety
• Good access to healthcare and physician density
• Strong institutions and regulatory quality
• High overall quality of life

These conditions make Singapore attractive not only for local workers, but also for global professionals and multinational firms.

4. Doing More With Less

The GTCI also notes that what sets economies apart is not only how much they invest, but how effectively they translate investment into outcomes.

Singapore is highlighted, along with economies such as South Korea and Israel, for:

• Converting relatively modest resources into strong talent outcomes
• Aligning education, labour and innovation systems
• Maintaining agility in policy and skills planning

This reinforces Singapore’s position as a strategic hub for companies that want both efficiency and high-quality talent.

What This Means for Companies in Singapore

1. Higher Expectations Around Talent Strategy

Companies operating in Singapore now sit within a world-leading ecosystem. This brings benefits, but also higher expectations.

Employers will be expected to:

• Integrate AI and digital tools into everyday work
• Invest in structured learning and development
• Support employees’ mental well-being and resilience
• Offer clear progression and mobility pathways

Firms that do not keep pace may find it harder to attract and retain the best people in a very competitive environment.

2. Intensifying Competition for Specialised Skills

Even with a strong overall ranking, companies in Singapore still face tight competition for specialised roles, especially in:

• AI, data and analytics
• Green and sustainability-related functions
• Semiconductors, electronics and advanced manufacturing
• Cybersecurity and cloud infrastructure
• Financial services and fintech

In these areas, employers may need to:

• Broaden their hiring criteria to focus on potential and adjacent skills
• Partner with training providers and industry programmes
• Work more closely with recruitment agencies to source niche talent

3. Retention and Employee Experience Matter More Than Ever

With other countries investing heavily in talent, workers in Singapore have more information and mobility than before. Retention strategies will need to focus on:

• Career path clarity
• Regular skills development
• Flexible and supportive work arrangements where possible
• Purpose, culture and leadership quality

Resilience, as highlighted in the GTCI, is not only about being strong in a crisis. It is also about building environments where people can adapt, learn and grow without burning out.

What This Means for Workers in Singapore

1. More Pathways, But Also Higher Skill Demands

Workers in Singapore are in one of the most supportive ecosystems globally, especially for career development and skills growth. However, this also means:

• Job roles are changing more quickly
• Employers are seeking cross-functional and AI-literate talent
• Continuous learning is becoming a basic expectation

Workers who keep learning, stay curious and build both technical and soft skills will be best placed to benefit from the opportunities ahead.

2. Adaptive Skills Are Now Core, Not “Nice to Have”

The GTCI emphasises resilience and adaptability. For individuals, this means focusing on:

• Critical thinking and problem solving
• Communication and collaboration
• Learning how to work with AI tools, not against them
• Managing stress and change in healthy ways

These skills help workers navigate disruptions such as industry shifts, technological change or organisational restructuring.

3. Cross-Functional Careers Will Become More Common

Careers are becoming less linear. Workers in Singapore may increasingly move between roles that blend:

• Technology and business
• Finance and data
• Operations and digital tools
• HR and analytics

Those who are willing to explore adjacent functions, and who can translate their strengths across contexts, will have more options over time.

Regional Context: How Singapore Compares

In the 2025 GTCI:

• Singapore ranks No. 1 globally
• Switzerland, Denmark, Finland and Sweden follow closely behind
• High-income European economies continue to dominate the top 10
• The United States has slipped from 3rd to 9th place

Within Asia and Oceania, Singapore leads the region on adaptive skills, future readiness and ecosystem quality. Australia and New Zealand score well on retention, but lag behind Singapore on generalist adaptive skills and overall talent competitiveness.

For regional headquarters, this strengthens the case for:

• Basing strategic functions in Singapore
• Using Singapore as a hub to train and develop regional talent
• Running cross-border teams anchored here

 

FAQ: Singapore and the Global Talent Competitiveness Index

1. What is the Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI)?

It is an annual study by INSEAD, in partnership with the Portulans Institute, that benchmarks how countries grow, attract and retain talent. It is widely used by policymakers, companies and researchers.

2. Why is Singapore’s No 1 ranking significant?

It highlights Singapore’s strength in education, lifelong learning, innovation readiness, safety and institutional quality. It reinforces the country’s reputation as a global hub for talent.

3. What does this mean for workers in Singapore?

Workers operate in a supportive ecosystem with strong learning opportunities. At the same time, they face higher expectations to stay adaptable, digitally fluent and open to change.

4. What does this mean for companies?

Companies will need to sharpen their talent strategies, from hiring and development to retention and well-being. Those who invest early in skills and resilience will be better positioned for the future.

 

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✅ Final Author Credit
By Valerie Ong (Regional Marketing Manager)
Published by Reeracoen Singapore — a leading recruitment agency in APAC.

🔗 Related Articles 

• Upskilling in the Age of AI & Green Jobs: Why Singapore Must Prepare Now
• Navigating Economic and Tech Signals in 2025: What Singapore’s Job Market in AI, Data, and Finance Reveals
• Singapore Labour Market 2025 Hiring Slows But Opportunities Rise — What It Means for You
• What Workers in Singapore Can Learn from the APAC Workforce Revolution in 2025

📚 References 

• INSEAD and Portulans Institute, Global Talent Competitiveness Index 2025
• The Straits Times, “Singapore tops global ranking for growing, attracting and retaining talent”
• Business Times, “Singapore overtakes Switzerland to claim top spot on global talent competitiveness index”
• CNBC, “Singapore tops list in the 2025 Global Talent Competitiveness Index”
• SkillsFuture Singapore and relevant public information on skills and workforce development

 

 

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