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human capital

American  

noun

  1. the collective skills, knowledge, or other intangible assets of individuals that can be used to create economic value for the individuals, their employers, or their community.

    Education is an investment in human capital that pays off in terms of higher productivity.


human capital British  

noun

  1. economics the abilities and skills of any individual, esp those acquired through investment in education and training, that enhance potential income earning

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of human capital

First recorded in 1795–1805

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“India is the only country on Earth that really provides a real alternative—in terms of the depth of its human capital and the scale of its market—to China.”

From The Wall Street Journal

"Automation, intelligent systems, and data-driven processes are increasingly taking over routine and repetitive tasks, reshaping traditional job structures," the summit's "human capital" working group says.

From Barron's

Employees who design the technology are a form of human capital, and are compensated in stock to reflect that.

From The Wall Street Journal

A fifth of our survey respondents said they would focus on digital or AI implementation as an important human capital priority.

From Barron's

The biggest holdup in the fiber boom, he said, is human capital for roles including drillers, foremen, splicers and aerial linemen.

From The Wall Street Journal