PHL jumps to 75th in talent competitiveness index

THE PHILIPPINES jumped nine spots in an annual ranking of countries' ability to attract and retain talent, according to a report by business school Institut Européen d'Administration des Affaires (INSEAD) and the Portulans Institute.

- By Chloe Mari A. Hufana Reporter

In the Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI) 2025, the Philippines ranked 75th out of 135 economies, improving from 84th in 2023. It had an overall score of 42.39 out of a possible 100.

This was the country's best ranking since 2021 when it was at 70th place.

The index looks at how countries and cities grow, attract and retain talent.

"These developments highlight the Philippines' ongoing efforts to strengthen managerial capability, enhance workforce adaptability, and foster an innovation-driven, digitally connected talent landscape," the report read.

The Philippines ranked eighth among its peers in the East and Southeast Asian region.

Singapore ranked first overall with a score of 73.29, followed by Japan (28th), South Korea (31), Brunei (43rd), Malaysia (46th), China (53rd) and Mongolia (65th).

The Philippines was also the top performer among lower middle-income economies, outpacing regional peers such as Vietnam (76th), Thailand (77th) and Indonesia (80th).

"Among lower middle-income economies, Lebanon, the Philippines, and India stand out for their growing emphasis on transferable and future-oriented skills," the report said.

SOFT SKILLS

Also, the Philippines was surprisingly the only lower-middle-income economy in the soft skills top 10, which was dominated by high-income economies led by Denmark, Iceland and Switzerland.