A low education budget has dragged down the Philippines’ ranking in a global talent survey for the fourth consecutive year, according to a report released by a Swiss education institution on Wednesday.
The Philippines fell to 64th place out of 69 economies in the 2025 World Talent Ranking, a decline from its 63rd position in 2024. The country has steadily dropped since ranking 54th in 2022.
The report, compiled by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), highlighted the Philippines’ poor performance in three key categories: investment and development (No. 66), appeal (No. 56), and readiness (No. 58).
According to IMD data, the Philippines’ public expenditure on education was only 3.29 percent of its total public spending, ranking 55th globally. It spent $443.02 on public education per student, which ranked 62nd, and had a primary school pupil-teacher ratio of 24.30 (No. 60) and a secondary school ratio of 26.33 (No. 66). The country also ranked 59th in apprenticeships and 46th in employee training.
Overall, the 2025 IMD Talent Ranking saw Switzerland maintain its top position, followed by Luxembourg in second and Iceland in third.
IMD said it used thousands of survey responses from senior executives combined with hard data to provide a “fair picture of how economies at different stages of development are performing in the art of sustaining their talent pools.”
Financial security and tangible benefits are now the most frequently cited drivers for international relocation, a shift from the pre-pandemic era when quality of life, cultural fit, and language were more important, IMD said.
“Financial incentives are highest for executives in countries experiencing economic uncertainty or rapid change, and lowest in environments considered to be financially secure or predictable,” said José Caballero, a senior economist at the IMD’s World Competitiveness Center (WCC).
The report also noted that even stable economies like Switzerland are facing mounting pressures to find talent, with firms struggling to fill roles amid the rise of new technologies and artificial intelligence.
“Even the most stable leading economies are today facing mounting pressures to address structural weaknesses such as gender participation gaps and underrepresentation in STEM fields, which may challenge their future performance,” said Fabian Grimm, a WCC research specialist.
Singapore, which fell five places to seventh, was noted for its on-the-job training. “Singapore is exemplary when it comes to training people on the job,” said Arturo Bris, WCC director. However, its high cost of living was cited as a major weakness this year.
