New Zealand, Australia And Canada Rank High In Global Talent Competitiveness Index

New Zealand, Australia and Canada have been recognized among the top 20 nations in the first Global Talent Competitiveness.

INSEAD, an international business school, released the first research-based index in collaboration with the Human Capital Leadership Institute of Singapore and Adecco, an American recruiting company.

In the business landscape category, New Zealand ranked first with labor market flexibility as one of the factors for getting high distinction. It also rated second in the political stability category and third in regulatory landscape.

New Zealand ranked poorly in the external openness category. The Global Talent Competitive Index evaluated the country's number of qualified workers and brain gain. In internal openness, New Zealand ranked fourth for its minority tolerance, immigrants, high social mobility and a number of female professionals.

According to INSEAD, the Global Talent Competitiveness Index measures a country's competitiveness based on the quality of talent from its people and how much talent can it attract and retain. The index evaluated 103 countries that represent most of the world's population and gross domestic product.

Switzerland topped the Global Talent Competitiveness Index. Singapore came in second followed by Denmark in third place. The United States ranked ninth. The UK is seventh, Canada 11th and Australia 15th place of the index.

Bruno Lanvin, co-author of the report, said "talent attractiveness" is becoming an important factor for countries in terms of competitiveness.

Switzerland ranked first as a result of its global and vocational knowledge skills. The country offers a thriving apprenticeship program and an effective system where workers can go back and forth from a classroom to the workplace.

Best Cities For Students

New Zealand's Auckland and Australia's Sydney and Melbourne made it to the list of world's top cities for students. Auckland's international student industry is boosted by ranking no. 18 out of 50 cities in Quacquarelli Symonds Best Students Cities list.

Auckland became eligible in the list after Auckland University of Technology placed in the prestigious World University Rankings top 500 joining Auckland University in 2012.

The best cities in the world for students list can be used as a tool for students to evaluate their options in pursuing overseas education. Sydney and Melbourne also made it to list of best cities for students, boosting Australia's talent competitiveness rankings.

Global Talent Competitiveness Index (INSEAD)

Rank Country

1 Switzerland

2 Singapore

3 Denmark

4 Sweden

5 Luxembourg

6 Netherlands

7 United Kingdom

8 Finland

9 United States

10 Iceland