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Communication is of huge importance to the worldwide economy. As globalisation has taken hold, it has only become more important, but language barriers continue to hold businesses back, preventing them from accessing global talent pools, fostering deep collaboration between employees, and strengthening customer relationships.
According to research by employee communications platform Haiilo, 72 per cent of CEOs believe language skills are crucial for business success. A recent study by learning company Pearson found similar results – and not just from the viewpoint of employers. After interviewing more than 5,000 speakers of English as a second or additional language from Brazil, Japan, Italy, Saudi Arabia and the USA, the majority (80 per cent) of respondents said that they view English proficiency skills as being directly linked to earning potential.
Increasingly, language skills are seen by employers, graduates and workers at all stages of their career journeys as crucial to career advancement. Research has shown that improving language skills can bring a broad spectrum of benefits that lead individuals to have more fulfilling personal lives. Aside from boosting an individual’s income and career prospects, language skills can be a great way of strengthening relationships and engaging with different cultures. This demonstrates how developing bilingual or multilingual skills can benefit an individual personally, as well as professionally.
Language skills can be developed through a variety of methods, including university exchange programmes, online platforms and in-work training schemes. Although traditional classroom-based language learning remains popular, many learners improve their linguistic skills independently, with the European Commission’s Eurobarometer survey finding that 65 per cent of Europeans who learn languages do so by themselves.
Looking strictly at career advantages, it is easy to see why learning languages is so popular. Research shows that bilingual employees earn between five and 20 per cent more on average than their fellow employees who are only able to speak a single language. The broad-based cognitive advantages of learning a language are also well established. From improving concentration to enhancing memory and unlocking unforeseen creativity, learning another language can improve an individual’s workplace performance in any number of ways.
Although language skills are desired by a variety of employers, they are in particular demand within certain industries. Tourism and hospitality are frequently in need of multilingual talent, for example, as are teaching roles. According to data compiled by City Lit, a provider of part-time evening, daytime and weekend classes, management, recruitment and technology are the three industries with the highest demand for applicants with language skills in the UK. Wherever you look, whether by industry or geography, multilingual employees are greatly wanted by recruiters.
For universities, workplaces and, of course, individuals, fostering a passion for languages is key. Encouraging lifelong learning is also important as it drives individuals to acquire new languages at any age – whether they have just entered higher education or are already well-established on the career ladder. Multilingual professionals remain in high demand even though an estimated 1.5 billion people today are actively learning a foreign language. Increasing that number will benefit employers, employees and students around the world.
Language proficiency testing plays a pivotal role in supporting multilingual students and graduates as they navigate academic and professional landscapes. These assessments, such as the Duolingo English Test, often serve as gateways to international opportunities, enhancing employability and competitiveness in the job market. By offering standardised measures of linguistic competence, language proficiency testing not only builds confidence in communication skills but also empowers multilingual individuals to unlock new academic, cultural and career opportunities, driving success in an increasingly interconnected world.
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