Bledi Taska joins QS Quacquarelli Symonds as Chief Economist

Former Executive Vice President and Chief Economist at Lightcast and most recently Chief Data and Analytics Officer at TalentNeuron, Bledi Taska will drive QS’s labor market data and analytics that is designed to bridge the gap between higher education and the global workforce and employability.

He will focus on providing solutions for students, universities and governments navigating the evolving world of work and industry.

"His work will generate valuable insights"

Based in Boston, he will support the North American market with unique analysis using QS’s proprietary data on issues such as the future of work, skills and upskilling, education and workforce planning and employment market dynamics. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's Labor Market for Recent College Graduates study, the unemployment rate for recent college graduates remains elevated at roughly 5.6 percent, with underemployment near 42 percent. A Stanford study found entry-level employment in the most AI-exposed occupations has declined 13 percent since generative AI went mainstream. QS's own World Future Skills Index 2027 found that while the United States ranks #1 globally on Skills Alignment — the closest match anywhere between graduates' skills and employer demand — American employers still report persistent gaps in human skills like critical thinking and leadership, and graduate underemployment keeps climbing.

Jessica Turner, CEO of QS Quacquarelli Symonds, said: “We are delighted to welcome Bledi to QS as our Chief Economist. At a time when AI is reshaping industries, skills and employment at unprecedented speed, his work will generate valuable insights for students, universities, employers and governments navigating this transformation.

“Bledi’s expertise across economics, AI, machine learning and data, combined with his deep understanding of the future of work, will strengthen our ability to help institutions and policymakers globally prepare students and graduates for success. As the labor market becomes increasingly complex and uncertain, his leadership will support QS and our partners in ensuring that people have the insight, skills and opportunities they need to fulfil their potential and achieve their career aspirations.”

Bledi Taska, said: “I chose to join QS because its mission aligns closely with what has motivated me throughout my career: the belief that education and labor markets, when they function well, are among the most powerful drivers of opportunity. I am also joining at a particularly important moment. As AI reshapes work, we need to answer a fundamental question: what is the value of higher education in this new era, and how does it need to evolve? QS brings together a global perspective on higher education, close relationships with universities, students and employers, and data that connects education toemployment. That puts QS in a unique position to help the sector answer this question, and I am excited to be part of that work.”

With a Ph.D. in Economics from New York University and a BA and MA in Economics from the University of Athens, Greece, Bledi has published several peer-reviewed articles in top-tier academic journals, such as the American Economic Review, Journal of Finance, Review of Economic Studies and Nature Cities, and his research and policy work have been covered by international media including The Economist, Financial Times, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. He has also previously advised organisations such as the OECD, World Economic Forum, European Commission, G20, World Bank, and US Bureau of Labor Statistics on skills, AI and labour market policy.

Turner added: “Bledi joins a team already doing important work at the intersection of higher education, skills and employment. His expertise will add further depth and reach to our established capabilities, helping us extract even greater value from QS’s global datasets and translate it into practical intelligence for students, universities, employers and governments. We are excited about what he will contribute as we continue to expand this work globally.”