The Business Times
business-time-50

Durability over hype: Assuring Singapore’s talent edge

Behind the Republic’s lower standing in the latest IMD World Talent Ranking is a drop in sentiment, not a structural fall

Summarise
google-preferred-sourceAdd BT as a preferred source
阅读简体中文版 (beta)
    • To stay ahead, Singapore needs a more coherent system, one that keeps the core strong, while letting fresh talent and ideas flow in, say the writers.
    • To stay ahead, Singapore needs a more coherent system, one that keeps the core strong, while letting fresh talent and ideas flow in, say the writers. PHOTO: ST

    Ma Qi Xiang and Yi Xin

    Published Wed, Sep 17, 2025 · 07:00 AM

    “TOGETHER, we are not afraid of storms,” declared Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee at the 2025 Hong Kong-Asean Summit on Sep 9.

    The line was well-timed, spoken just as Hong Kong climbed five places in the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) World Talent Ranking, overtaking Singapore for the first time in recent memory. Lee touted the jump “a clear testament” to his government’s talent push. 

    The IMD World Talent Ranking assesses how well countries develop, attract and retain talent. It is closely watched by businesses and makes headlines each year.

    foreign talentJobs and skillsTrainingleadership

    TRENDING NOW

    Singapore’s next chapter should not be framed as a choice between economic growth and social well-being. We need both.

    Singapore at 61: How we can ensure opportunity, security and ownership for the next generation

    Clockwise from top left: The founders of ImmunoQs, AI Seer and DancingMind. All three startups are based at JTC Corp’s LaunchPad @ one-north.

    With tech for fact-checking to cancer care, Singapore startups aim beyond home 

    The Vietnamese economy has long relied heavily on bank lending, straining commercial banks as they shoulder the bulk of the financing needed by companies and large infrastructure projects.

    Vietnam seeks US$76 billion a year from capital markets to ease reliance on banks

    BYD’s rise to become the No 1 passenger-car seller in Singapore can be described as explosive. 

    How BYD disrupted Singapore’s car market – and why the strategy is turning on itself

    Latest T-bills Treasury Bills Results & Interest NewsLatest SSB Singapore Savings Bonds NewsLatest COE Certificate of Entitlement News
    Latest Johor-Singapore SEZ NewsLatest BTO Build To Order & Sales of Balance NewsLatest STI Straits Times Index NewsLatest SGX Dividends, Share Price NewsLatest Bonds Market NewsLatest Singapore Stocks To Buy NewsLatest Singapore Economy News
    View More