Author: CBI
Publisher: CBI
Date of Publication: 2012
Key messages on language skills:
Languages will help open up new markets to UK companies.
Operating effectively in a global economy relies on the right language skills, but the UK has the worst language proficiency in Europe, according to the Education & Employer Taskforce. An overwhelming 72% of businesses say they value foreign language skills, most importantly for building relations with overseas contacts (39%). The major European languages continue to be the most in demand, but language skills geared towards doing business in China and the Middle East feature prominently:
- German – 50%
- French – 49%
- Spanish – 37%
- Mandarin – 25%
- Polish 19%
- Arabic – 19%
John Cridland, CBI Director-General, said: “Rebalancing our economy will mean tapping into high-growth markets in places like Asia and Latin America, so companies will need people with the relevant language skills to do business in these countries.”
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