INTERNATIONAL: Multi-lingual demand increases
Both the number of companies only hiring multi-lingual candidates for management positions and the number of firms providing language training are on the increase, in a survey from learning and assessment provider AMA Enterprise.
The study of 1,000 companies across six continents finds that around 14% only hire candidates with multiple languages for management roles, up from 10%, and that the number of firms providing language training for all staff has more than doubled from 10% in 2011 to 23% in 2012.
Nonetheless, 23% of firms said they neither required multilingual skills nor provided language training of any kind.
Senior vice president of AMA Enterprise notes: “English is currently perceived as the predominant language of business throughout the world, but that may be changing. This is a trend to watch.
“There is an emerging realisation that English may not be the exclusive business language in the future. And forward thinking organisations clearly see the value of the multilingual leader and look for greater language proficiency in their global leadership candidates.”