PHL drops to 64th in global talent ranking

The Philippines has dropped to 64th out of 69 economies in the IMD World Talent Ranking 2025, a decline from its previous position of 63rd.

The country's overall standing has been on a downtrend over the last three years, falling from 54th in 2022 to 64th in 2025.

Its ranking fell across all three key factors assessed: investment and development (66th), appeal (56th), and readiness (58th).

Regionally, the Philippines lags behind most Asia-Pacific neighbors, including top-ranked Hong Kong (4th globally), Singapore (7th), and Malaysia (25th).

Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Iceland remain the top-performing countries globally in the talent index.

Management Association of the Philippines president Alfredo Panlilio highlighted human capital as a critical concern, noting that companies struggle to find the talent they need despite available positions.

He suggested that fixing school curricula to align with current workforce demands is an important aspect of addressing this issue.