The island ranks 39th among 69 economies in the IMD World Talent Ranking, standing out for its highly skilled STEM talent availability
Puerto Rico achieved 39th place in the 2025 IMD World Talent Ranking, significantly improving its standing compared to last year, when it placed 45th among 69 evaluated economies. The report, produced by the Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Switzerland, measures countries’ ability to develop, attract, and retain talent.
Puerto Rico’s rise is reflected across the ranking’s three evaluated dimensions: Investment and Development (#37), Appeal (#38), and Readiness (#39). The report highlights key strengths such as the proportion of graduates in science and STEM disciplines, the international experience of senior executives, and the availability of skilled labor.
Puerto Rico has been a cradle of STEM talent with global impact for decades. The island has over 80 accredited universities and colleges, including the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (UPR-M), which is recognized as the #1 institution in the United States for graduating Hispanic engineers. Nearly 50% of Puerto Rico’s university graduates each year come from STEM disciplines, representing around 21,000 professionals in health, biology, engineering, and applied technologies.
“These results confirm that Puerto Rico’s highly skilled talent can compete directly with other larger markets. They also strengthen our role as an important hub for talent and business in the Caribbean and the Americas,” said Ella Woger-Nieves, CEO of Invest Puerto Rico (InvestPR).
On the global stage, Puerto Rico ranks 39th, surpassing established economies such as Japan (#40) and Italy (#41), and positioning itself close to major players like China (#38) and South Korea (#37). At the regional level, the island also stands out, ranking ahead of Chile (#49), Colombia (#57), Mexico (#66), Brazil (#67), and Venezuela (#68), while approaching European benchmarks such as Spain (#36) and Portugal (#23).“Puerto Rico’s climb in the IMD World Talent Ranking confirms that our island is showing an increasingly competitive profile at the international level. This is not just about climbing positions in a ranking, but about proving that our STEM talent, bilingualism, and the international experience of our professionals place us on par with, and even ahead of, traditionally recognized economies such as Japan and Italy. This result reflects deliberate public policies and the constant collaboration between government, academia, and the private sector to strengthen our human capital. Our commitment is to continue expanding those opportunities, creating an ecosystem where more Puerto Ricans can thrive, and where companies find on the island a highly competitive platform to grow in global markets,” said Sebastián Negrón Reichard, Secretary of the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC).
For his part, John Bozek, Chief Research and Strategy Officer at Invest Puerto Rico, noted that “the six-position improvement in the ranking reflects progress in strategic indicators such as the availability of STEM talent and our companies’ ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals.” He added: “This data validates that Puerto Rico provides fertile ground for companies seeking to grow in a competitive and resilient environment.”
The IMD World Talent Ranking also identifies areas for improvement, including strengthening the primary and secondary education system and enhancing local talent retention. These findings underscore the importance of implementing policies and initiatives to develop the island’s human capital.
In 2022, Puerto Rico was included for the first time in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook and the World Talent Ranking, thanks to the coordinated efforts of InvestPR, DDEC, the Ana G. Méndez University in Gurabo (UAGM), and IMD. This inclusion has allowed the island to be measured by the same competitiveness and talent standards as other world economies, highlighting its strengths and opportunities in the global landscape.
About Invest Puerto Rico
Invest Puerto Rico is a nonprofit organization created by law to promote Puerto Rico abroad as a competitive investment jurisdiction, with a focus on attracting new businesses and capital to drive the island’s economic growth. Our vision is to be a transformational, results-oriented economic development accelerator for Puerto Rico. For more information, visit www.investpr.org.
