UPSKILLING | English proficiency becoming critical skill in global workplace — report
The report examined how English proficiency affects hiring, employee development and organizational performance in the modern workplace.
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English proficiency is becoming increasingly important for organizations worldwide as businesses expand globally, adopt artificial intelligence tools and shift toward remote collaboration, according to a new report based on a survey of HR leaders in 17 countries.
The TOEIC Global English Skills Report, based on responses from 1,325 human resources decision-makers, found that 92% of employers say English proficiency among employees is more important today than it was five years ago. Nine in 10 respondents also say English skills are critical to their organization’s success.
The report examined how English proficiency affects hiring, employee development and organizational performance in the modern workplace.
Employers prioritize English skills
Employers are placing strong emphasis on English proficiency during recruitment.
About 91% of organizations say they prioritize hiring university graduates with English language skills, and 89% say English assessment scores taken during university are useful when screening candidates.
Companies also expect employees to demonstrate proficiency across all four core language skills — reading, writing, listening and speaking. More than three-quarters of employers require at least general working proficiency in these areas, meaning employees can communicate effectively in professional or technical situations.
Expectations are higher among multinational companies and organizations with more than 2,500 employees.
AI increases, not replaces, demand for English
The report found that artificial intelligence tools have not reduced the importance of English proficiency in the workplace.
Across speaking, listening, reading and writing skills, most employers said AI cannot fully compensate for employees who lack English ability. Roughly six in 10 respondents said AI tools cannot replace English language competency.
Instead, employers say the growth of AI is increasing the need for English proficiency because many digital tools require English prompts, commands or documentation.
About 81% of HR leaders say integrating AI into daily operations increases the need for employees with strong English skills.
English assessments widely used
Many organizations rely on English language assessments to evaluate job applicants and employees.
Among surveyed employers, 78% use English assessments for hiring and candidate screening. Another 71% use assessments before training or education programs, while 66% use them to evaluate promotion readiness.
Standardized third-party assessments are the most common tools used by employers. Around 55% of HR leaders rate these assessments as very effective, compared with 51% for internally developed assessments and 47% for informal evaluations such as conversations or observations.
Despite widespread use, organizations still face challenges when evaluating English skills. About 44% of respondents say finding candidates with strong English proficiency is a pressing challenge.
Nearly 68% also say their organizations lack effective tools to screen job applicants for English proficiency.
Business performance linked to language skills
The report links strong English proficiency to several business outcomes, including global collaboration, organizational growth and employee productivity.
Organizations that use standardized English assessments report higher satisfaction with employees’ ability to build new business partnerships. About 80% of these companies report strong satisfaction compared with 62% among organizations that do not use standardized assessments.
Language proficiency also affects customer relationships. About 74% of employers say miscommunication caused by limited English skills has strained relationships with clients or customers.
Overall, 90% of HR leaders say their organization’s performance is directly tied to English proficiency among employees.
Workforce efficiency and engagement
Employers also associate English proficiency with stronger workforce performance.
More than four in five HR leaders say their organizations would operate more efficiently if they used better English assessments when screening job candidates.
About 83% say hiring workers with insufficient English skills increases operational costs through lower productivity, higher turnover and reduced employee retention.
Companies that use standardized assessments also report higher satisfaction in several HR outcomes, including workflow efficiency, employee professional growth and productivity.
Assessments expected to expand
Employers expect English assessments to become more common in the coming years.
About 81% of HR leaders say a more competitive job market will increase demand for English proficiency, and 84% believe companies will administer English assessments to all new hires within the next five years.
Many organizations are also investing in language development. Around 63% report allocating at least $50,000 annually for English skills training and assessment programs.
Healthcare organizations are among the largest investors, with roughly 30% spending more than $500,000 annually on English development initiatives.
Policy changes may shape future workforce
Government education policies may also influence workplace language skills.
Only 23% of surveyed employers say their governments currently mandate minimum English proficiency to complete secondary education. However, 53% expect such policies to be introduced within the next five years.
Employers in regions with English proficiency mandates report stronger outcomes, including higher satisfaction with employees’ ability to build new business partnerships and professional growth.
Full disclosure: All news articles published on the TechSabado website are written by human journalists, unless otherwise specified. Final text editing is also performed by human editors, with artificial intelligence (AI) used only to assist with additional grammar and style guide corrections..
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