The Talent City Index is a data-driven report that benchmarks how cities and regions perform in the competition for skilled talent. It provides actionable insights to help places strengthen their attractiveness, positioning and long-term retention capacity.
The challenge
Where do today’s and tomorrow’s skilled professionals want to live and work?
As talent shortages increase across industries, this question has become critical for cities, regions, employers and investors. Understanding what drives location decisions — and how your place compares — is essential for staying competitive.
The solution
The Talent City Index ranks major city regions based on their attractiveness to skilled professionals aged 20–45. It also identifies which regions are at risk of losing talent, and which have the strongest potential to attract and retain talent in the future.
TCI helps answer key strategic questions, such as:
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What are your region’s main strengths and attractiveness factors?
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Which weaknesses need to be addressed or better communicated?
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Which target groups find your place most — and least — attractive?
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Which cities are your main competitors?
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What is the risk of talent outflow, and what drives people to stay?
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What motivates people to relocate — and what barriers do they face?
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How do preferences differ between professions, age groups and life stages?
Report Formats
The Talent City Index is available in three formats:
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City Report
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City Region Report
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Comparative Analysis
The report has been published annually in Sweden since 2023, with the latest edition released in November 2025. It has also been conducted in Finland, Germany and Norway.
Who Is It For?
The Talent City Index is designed for:
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Cities, regions and public authorities
Working with talent attraction, relocation, place branding, economic development and regional growth -
Employers with strong location dependency
Seeking to compare locations, strengthen employer attractiveness or inform investment decisions -
Real estate actors and investors
Looking to assess and compare the attractiveness of different locations
Interested in learning more? Visit www.talentcityindex.com or get in touch with us to explore how the Talent City Index can be applied in your country or region.
More on the topic
Find our free handbooks & white papers on Talent Attraction at our handbook library!
