Europe Takes Lead in Global Talent War

December 19, 2013 – The U.S. is falling behind Europe in producing, retaining and attracting talent, according to the first edition of the Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI). The Index, which was published by INSEAD and based on research co-conducted with the Human Capital Leadership Institute of Singapore (HCLI) and in partnership with Adecco Group, highlights how vital talent is in today's competitive global economy. The GTCI, which measures a nation's competitiveness based on the quality of talent it develops, attracts and retains through a range of output and input variables, will help countries determine and compare where they fall in the war for talent against that of other nations. The Index, which featured 103 countries representing 86 percent of the world's population and 96.7 percent of the world's GDP, found that Switzerland is leading the war for talent. The top 10 list was heavily dominated by European nations with only two other countries–Singapore and the U.S.–taking a spot. Also coming in close were Canada (11th) and Norway (12th). “In today's global economy, it's become increasingly clear how important talent is as a resource,” said Bob Crouch, CEO of Adecco Group North America. “This Index shows that there are areas where the U.S. is excelling, but there is always room for improvement when it comes to attracting the best and the brightest. The public and the private sectors must work together to determine what the future workforce will need to excel through education and an understanding of the skills employers will need in the future.”