Which Southeast Asian country ranks first in the world in its ability to attract talent?

1. Which Southeast Asian country ranks first in the world in its ability to attract talent?

Malaysia
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Vietnam
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Singapore
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Philippines
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Exactly

According to the Global Talent Competitiveness Index 2025 (GTCI) ranking, Singapore has risen to number one in the world for the first time, surpassing Switzerland, which had held the top spot for a decade. This achievement not only marks unprecedented progress but also affirms Singapore's leading position in attracting, developing, and retaining talent.

The GTCI 2025 report, published at the end of November by INSEAD Business School in collaboration with the Portulans Institute (Washington, DC, USA), assesses 135 countries across 77 component indicators, representing over 97% of global GDP, and is independently audited by the European Commission's Joint Centre for International Studies.

The overall ranking is determined based on six pillars: Enable, Attract, Grow, Retain, VT Skills (Technical Skills), and GA Skills (Academic Skills).

2. The main reasons why Singapore has risen to the number one position in the world for talent competitiveness are:

Abundant natural resources
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Strong education policies and adaptability in the AI era.
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Young population
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The economy relies on cheap labor.
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Exactly

The main reason Singapore has risen to the number one position globally in talent competitiveness is its robust education system, effective governance model, and long-term strategy in building a workforce adapted to the AI era.

The GTCI 2025 report shows that Singaporean workers are proactive learners, proficient in soft skills, possess strong digital capabilities, and have a high level of innovative thinking. These factors provide a solid foundation for them to quickly transform, adapt, and seize opportunities in a rapidly changing technological landscape.

3. What is Vietnam's ranking in terms of its ability to attract talent?

50
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60
0%
70
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76
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Exactly

Globally, Vietnam ranks 76th, down one place compared to the last ranking in 2023. In the 6 pillars, Vietnam achieved the highest ranking in the “Grow” pillar (67), which assesses the ability to nurture, develop and upgrade human resource skills through education, training and practical career opportunities.

Conversely, the two lowest-ranked pillars, both at 79, are “Retain” and “GA Skills,” reflecting limitations in talent retention, knowledge development, and innovation capabilities.

In Southeast Asia, Vietnam ranks fourth in terms of talent attraction competitiveness, after Singapore (1), Malaysia (46) and the Philippines (75).

4. Which Southeast Asian country is the only lower-middle-income economy to be included in the global top 10 for soft skills?

Indonesia
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Malaysia
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Thailand
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Philippines
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Exactly

According to GTCI 2025, the Philippines ranked 75th, a significant increase compared to the 2023 ranking (84). Notably, it is the only lower-middle-income economy to be included in the global top 10 for soft skills.

The GTCI report emphasizes that soft skills in collaboration are increasingly becoming key factors in helping economies enhance talent capacity and strengthen the adaptability of their workforce. Among the top 10 countries in soft skills, the majority are high-income economies in Europe such as Denmark, Iceland, and Switzerland, along with Middle Eastern countries including Qatar, the UAE, Israel, and Saudi Arabia.