• Developed, high-income countries are still the Global talent champions

• Zurich, Stockholm, Oslo take top spots IN THE CITIES’ RANKING
• Vietnam ranks 87
• DIVERSITY HOLDS UNTAPPED POTENTIAL FOR COMPETITIVENESS

Ho Chi Minh City, May 23, 2018: The 2018 Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI 2018) report found that Switzerland still leads the way in terms of talent competitiveness, followed by Singapore and the United States. In general, European countries continue to dominate the GTCI rankings, with 15 in the top 25. This year’s edition also revealed that the top ten countries have several key characteristics in common and share one major feature: they all have a well-developed educational system providing the social and collaboration skills needed for employability in today’s labour market.

On further examination, there are several other characteristics in common between the top-ranking countries:

• A flexible regulatory and business landscape
• Employment policies which combine flexibility and social protection
• External and internal openness

In addition to the talent competitiveness ranking, this year’s report investigated the theme of ‘Diversity for competitiveness’. Three types of diversity were distinguished: cognitive, identity and preference (or value). The theme of diversity (the collaboration between people with different personalities, knowledge sets, experiences and perspectives) was chosen because it plays a critical role in linking talent policies to innovation strategies. Paying attention to demographic diversity nurtures a sustainable and innovative future and helps organizations to retain and develop talent. Nevertheless, the report highlights that there is a cost to diversity: people are often ill-equipped to collaborate with others who are different from themselves.

The report, published today by INSEAD, the Business School for the World, in partnership with the Adecco Group and Tata Communications, is a comprehensive annual benchmarking measuring how countries and cities grow, attract and retain talent, providing a unique resource for decision makers to understand the global talent competitiveness picture and develop strategies for boosting their competitiveness.

Andree Mangels, General Director of Adecco Vietnam, reflects on Vietnam’s 2018 ranking, “With the world on the brink of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Vietnam needs to get ready for a new wave of technology that will fundamentally change the way work is done. 85% of production workers in Vietnam’s textile, clothing and footwear sectors are at risk from automation and robotics. While Vietnam’s position on Innovation Output is strong, rankings for Labor Productivity and Vocational and Technical Skills remain low, as such, the country needs to bridge the gap between the education system and the economic needs to be ready for the 4.0 Revolution.”

Top 20 rankings in detail and results for specific variables

The edition of GTCI 2018 includes 68 variables (65 in 2017), covering 119 countries and 90 cities (respectively 118 and 46 in 2017). This year again, GTCI scores are led by developed, high-income countries.

• Switzerland maintains its number 1 position, followed by Singapore and the United States.
• European countries continue to dominate the GTCI rankings, with 15 of them in the top 25.

2018 Top GTCI 25 Rankings

The index assesses the policies and practices that enable a country to attract, develop and retain both ‘Technical/Vocational skills’ and the ‘Global Knowledge skills’ associated with innovation, entrepreneurship and leadership - the talent that contributes to productivity and prosperity.

The challenge of diversity

The in-depth supplementary analysis of the 2018 report reveals how organisations, cities and nations are approaching diversity. It reveals that diversity is not an end in itself, but must always be accompanied by a culture of inclusion in order to flourish and have real impact. Targets and statistics cannot replace cultural acceptance and openness.

GTCI 2018 findings, however, show that there is no absolute model for diversity and inclusion. Switzerland, for example, does not score as well as its top GTCI position would imply on leadership opportunities for women. The Nordics score remarkably well on most variables related to collaboration, internal openness, social mobility and gender equality, but they struggle in external openness, and hence in attracting talent.

Alain Dehaze, Adecco Group Chief Executive Officer, “Focusing on diversity and inclusion is crucial to overcome the fractures and inequalities of our age. This means nurturing a culture of inclusion, starting at home and school, fighting bias and developing social and collaborative skills, which are key to unleash the power of work and will make the future work for everyone.”                      

____________________________________________________________________________

Download the report 

Download the Infographic  

Watch the GTCI 2018 Videographic

Consult the GTCI interactive version and test the new GTCI talent positioning system (TPS)  

Follow us on twitter #GTCI for updates

For further information, please contact:

Duong Ngoc Huong Thao – Senior Marketing Executive

thao.duong@adecco.com or +84 28 3815 3430

adecco.com.vn

Facebook: facebook.com/adeccovietnam

About The Adecco Group

The Adecco Group is the world’s leading HR solutions partner. We provide more than 700,000 people with permanent and flexible employment every day. With more than 33,000 employees in 60 countries, we transform the world of work one job at a time. Our colleagues serve more than 100,000 organisations with the talent, HR services and cutting-edge technology they need to succeed in an ever-changing global economy. As a Fortune Global 500 company, we lead by example, creating shared value that meets social needs while driving business innovation. Our culture of inclusivity, fairness and teamwork empowers individuals and organisations, fuels economies, and builds better societies. These values resonate with our employees, who voted us number 2 on the Great Place to Work® - World’s Best Workplaces 2017 list. We make the future work for everyone.

The Adecco Group is based in Zurich, Switzerland. Adecco Group AG is registered in Switzerland (ISIN: CH0012138605) and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ADEN). The group is powered by eight lead brands: Adecco, Modis, Badenoch & Clark, Spring Professional, Lee Hecht Harrison, Pontoon, Adia and YOSS.

www.adeccogroup.com

About INSEAD, The Business School for the World

As one of the world's leading and largest graduate business schools, INSEAD brings together people, cultures and ideas to change lives and to transform organisations. A global perspective and cultural diversity are reflected in all aspects of our research and teaching.

With campuses in Europe (Fontainebleau), Asia (Singapore) and the Middle East (Abu Dhabi), INSEAD's business education and research span three continents. The school’s 145 renowned Faculty members from 40 countries inspire more than 1,400 degree participants annually in its MBA, Executive MBA, Executive Master in Finance, Executive Master in Consulting and Coaching for Change and PhD programmes. In addition, more than 11,000 executives participate in INSEAD's executive education programmes each year. In addition, INSEAD participates in academic partnerships with number of universities around the world. INSEAD became a pioneer of international business education with the graduation of the first MBA class on them in 1960. Around the world and over the decades, INSEAD continues to conduct cutting-edge research and to innovate across all its programmes to provide business leaders with the knowledge and sensitivity to operate anywhere. These core values have enabled INSEAD to become truly "The Business School for the World”. INSEAD’s MBA programme is ranked #1 by the Financial Times in 2016 and 2017.

www.insead.edu

About Tata Communications

Tata Communications Limited along with its subsidiaries (Tata Communications) is a leading global provider of A New World of Communications™. With a leadership position in emerging markets, Tata Communications leverages its advanced solutions capabilities and domain expertise across its global network to deliver managed solutions to multi-national enterprises and communications service providers.

The Tata Communications global network includes one of the most advanced and largest submarine cable networks and a Tier-1 IP network with connectivity to more than 240 countries and territories across 400 PoPs, as well as nearly 1 million square feet of data centre and colocation space worldwide.

Tata Communications’ depth and breadth of reach in emerging markets include leadership in Indian enterprise data services and leadership in global international voice communications. Tata Communications Limited is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India.

www.tatacommunications.com

Tata Communications and Tata are trademarks of Tata Sons Limited in certain countries.