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
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Freddie Mac's human capital management strategy focuses on attracting, developing, and retaining talent, with 8,076 full-time and 27 part-time employees as of January 31, 2025. Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 13 Feb. 2025 The letters came from Adam Martinez, the agency’s chief human capital officer, according to copies of the letters reviewed by The Times. Stacy Cowley, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2025 Oglesby, the chief of staff, and Clay, the human capital officer, did not say when those will take place or which offices will be hit hardest during the meeting. David Ingram, NBC News, 6 Feb. 2025 This approach cuts down on resource usage, both human capital and capital investments, that is needed for traditional models that require driving millions of miles of roads. Eric Rosenbaum, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for human capital 

Word History

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of human capital was in 1799

Dictionary Entries Near human capital

Cite this Entry

“Human capital.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/human%20capital. Accessed 18 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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