Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) · 8 Sep, 07:00 · Business briefing

Singapore reclaims top spot in IMD world competitiveness ranking as business efficiency improves

Singapore has regained the number one position in the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, driven primarily by enhanced business efficiency.

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The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

Singapore has regained the number one position in the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, driven primarily by enhanced business efficiency. This improvement reflects the nation’s success in optimising operational processes and maintaining a favourable regulatory environment for enterprise. The ranking evaluates economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency, and infrastructure. For professionals, this signals a continued emphasis on streamlined operations and high productivity standards within the region. The data suggests that organisations prioritising lean management and effective resource allocation are thriving. This development underscores Singapore’s resilience as a global hub for efficient commerce, reinforcing its appeal to multinational corporations seeking reliable, high-performing operational bases in the Asia-Pacific region.

Employer demand for Project Management skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

As business efficiency drives Singapore’s top ranking, your career prospects will improve by aligning with operational excellence. Prioritise skills in process optimisation and data-driven decision-making. Professionals in operations, supply chain, and project management should focus on lean methodologies to reduce waste and accelerate delivery. You must demonstrate how your work contributes to broader organisational efficiency. Upskill in analytics to interpret performance metrics accurately. Smart professionals will seek roles where they can implement automation or streamline workflows. Pay attention to sectors benefiting from regulatory stability and infrastructure quality. Position yourself as a problem-solver who enhances productivity. Your value lies in your ability to maintain high standards while reducing complexity. Adapt quickly to new efficiency tools and showcase measurable improvements in your current role to stand out.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Project Management, Supply Chain, Data Science and Business And Management — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

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