Company News Online Sources 01 Jan 2026 views ( )

Singapore Tops Global Talent Competitiveness Ranking

In the newly released Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI) report, Singapore has surpassed Switzerland to claim the number one spot globally—recognized for its outstanding ability to cultivate resilient, digitally skilled, and innovation-ready talent in the age of artificial intelligence (AI).

This marks the first time Singapore has topped the annual index since its inception in 2013 by INSEAD, the global business school. The GTCI was created to inform policy decisions related to labor markets, workplace organization, and talent mobility.

While high-income European economies still dominate the top 10, a key highlight of this year’s report is the notable decline of several major economies—most notably the United States, which dropped from 3rd to 9th place.

The 2026 edition—the 11th since 2013—is themed “Resilience in the Age of Disruption” and examines how nations build talent systems capable of withstanding shocks. Covering 135 economies, the index evaluates performance across 77 indicators grouped into six pillars: • Enabling environment • Talent attraction • Talent growth • Talent retention • Vocational and technical skills • Global knowledge and adaptive skills

“True talent resilience lies in turning adversity into a catalyst for innovation, greater adaptability, and renewed purpose,” said Felipe Monteiro, Academic Director of the GTCI and Senior Affiliate Professor of Strategy at INSEAD. “Resilience means learning to ‘break through proactively’—not just ‘bounce back’ from inevitable disruptions and crises.”

Lily Fang, Dean of Research and Innovation at INSEAD, added: “This year’s report should not be seen merely as a competition between nations. It offers leaders profound insights into how powerful technologies like AI can be meaningfully integrated into the broader trajectory of human progress.”

The 2026 GTCI also marks the beginning of a new collaboration between INSEAD and the Portulans Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit research organization.

“In an era defined by rapid technological change, geopolitical uncertainty, and deep societal transformation, reliable metrics on talent are more critical than ever,” said Rafael Escalona Reynoso, CEO of the Portulans Institute. “This partnership brings new depth and clarity to the GTCI.”

Singapore’s Strengths

According to the report, Singapore’s rise to the top is driven by its continuously evolving education system and forward-looking strategies to develop agile, innovation-oriented talent.

The country ranked #1 globally in “Global Knowledge and Adaptive Skills”, reflecting a workforce equipped with the soft skills, digital literacy, and innovative mindset needed in today’s fast-changing environment. Singapore also made significant gains in talent retention, climbing seven places to 31st.

“Economies that invest in building workforces with adaptability, cross-functional collaboration skills, and AI literacy are better positioned to turn disruption into opportunity—and sustain long-term competitiveness,” noted Paul Evans, Emeritus Professor of Organisational Behaviour at INSEAD and co-editor of the report.

“This year’s results show that talent competitiveness is not solely tied to income levels. Strategic policy direction, institutional quality, and effective human capital allocation are equally vital.”

Source: INSEAD