The United States ranked fourth internationally for the second consecutive year in producing, retaining and attracting talent, according to the third edition of the Global Talent Competitiveness Index. Canada ranked ninth.

The index features 109 countries and measures a nation’s competitiveness based on quality of developed and acquired talent combined along with the range and strength of skills available within the labor market. It is published by INSEAD and based on research in partnership with the Adecco Group and the Human Capital Leadership Institute of Singapore.

The top three countries ranked on talent competitiveness remained the same as in 2014. European countries dominated the rankings, as they did in the prior two reports, taking seven of the top 10 spots:

1. Switzerland
2. Singapore
3. Luxembourg
4. United States
5. Denmark
6. Sweden
7. United Kingdom
8. Norway
9. Canada
10. Finland

The report found key findings around the US talent landscape included:

• The US outperformed the average performance of high-income countries in every pillar and led the way in growing its own talent through elements like formal education, lifelong training and access to networks. Additionally, the US featured a large pool of individuals with global knowledge like scientists, engineers and people that innovate and engage in entrepreneurial activities.
• The combination of a good formal education system and good access to growth opportunities provided the United States with the best pool of higher skills and competencies; however, in order to stay at the top of the global race for talent, the US must continue to offer the best educational and market opportunities to job seekers.
• The US fell short in the “labor and vocational” pillar, and particularly in the availability of vocational skills and infrastructure. While this is not a US-specific problem, this skills deficit continues to show a massive shortage of job seekers lacking the vocational and work-training skills needed for today’s economy and the future workforce.

“The world of work is changing faster than ever, bringing both great opportunities and challenges; 200 million people are unemployed and about one in two jobs are at risk due to automation,” said Adecco Group CEO Alain Dehaze.

“As digitalization and aging trends advance, GTCI confirms the key importance of talent mobility to boost competitiveness and balance surpluses and deficits of skills across the world,” Dehaze said. “Talent champion countries demonstrate that, to attract talent, governments must invest in education and knowledge hubs, as well as reduce bureaucracy and simplify labor markets. Employers should foster talent mobility and invest in hyper-connectivity to capitalize on technology, harness the opportunities offered by the global economy and create jobs.”