human capital

noun

: the skills, knowledge, and qualifications of a person, group, or workforce considered as economic assets

Nothing is more important to a company, nation, or individual than intelligence. It is the fundamental key to problem-solving and wealth creation, and underpins the human capital that drives every company and nation forward.

—Peter H. Diamandis

In fact, the evidence suggests that public investments in human capital, including higher education, yield long-term economic rates of return that far exceed most standard investments in technology or capital.

—Edward L. Glaeser

All of this coincided with the emergence in academe of the idea of "human capital": the notion that the more skilled the work force, the more productive it tends to be.

—Denis P. Doyle et al.

Examples of human capital in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Reviewing Automation Processes Often While human capital is ultimately the best investment a firm can make, the rate of change in finance due to AI has been drastic. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025

The rush to develop — and invest in — advanced AI has included billions of dollars in plans to build out the computing power, electricity infrastructure and human capital necessary to develop increasingly powerful models capable of performing complex tasks. —Jason Abbruzzese, NBC news, 28 Mar. 2025

Not just across asset classes, but across internal operations and human capital. —Francois Botha, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025

Interior Department: 1,712 employees were terminated, and the department's deputy assistant secretary for human capital, learning and safety said 90% of 1,710 workers who were fired have since been rehired. —Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 18 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for human capital

• capitol
• noncapital