Research reveals the most in-demand languages for UK professionals
In today’s globalised economy, the ability to speak multiple languages is more valuable than ever. To uncover increasing demand for multilingual professionals across various industries, researchers at City Lit have analysed the number of job advertisements which are looking for multilingual professionals.
The research reveals that European languages are in high demand across multiple industries, with German, French and Spanish taking the three top spots.
Top 5 languages:
| Rank | Language | Percentage of jobs available |
| 1 | German | 25% |
| 2 | French | 24% |
| 3 | Spanish | 15% |
| 4 | Turkish | 13% |
| 5 | Mandarin | 6% |
The data reveals that German, French, and Spanish are among the most sought-after languages across multiple industries. German leads the way with significant demand in sectors like Management, Sales, and Technology, with over 1,035 job openings in Management alone. French also shows strong demand, particularly in Marketing, Education, and Recruitment, with 1,080 job opportunities in Management.
Spanish, widely spoken across the globe, is in high demand in sectors such as Management (700 jobs), Recruitment (210 jobs), and Sales (400 jobs). These languages are key to unlocking career opportunities in international markets.
Top 10 industries for multilingual applicants:
There are many industries which have a particularly high demand for multilingual professionals, with management, recruitment and technology taking the three top spots.
Top 10 industries looking for multilingual applicants:
| Rank | Industry | Percentage of jobs available |
| 1 | Management | 13.2% |
| 2 | Recruitment | 6.1% |
| 3 | Technology | 5.2% |
| 4 | Sales | 5.0% |
| 5 | Marketing | 4.5% |
| 6 | Education | 4.1% |
| 7 | Insurance | 3.5% |
| 8 | Finance | 3.3% |
| 9 | Bank | 3.3% |
| 10 | Engineering | 2.6% |
Management, Recruitment, and Technology are industries where multilingual skills are highly valued, with thousands of job openings requiring proficiency in multiple languages. Management tops the list, with over 4,308 jobs available for professionals who can speak languages like French, German, and Spanish, offering pathways to leadership roles in global companies.
Recruitment follows with 1,992 positions, where language skills are crucial for connecting with diverse talent pools and expanding international networks. The Technology sector also shows a notable demand, with 1,722 jobs, particularly for professionals fluent in German, French, and Spanish.
Claudio Guasti, Head of School Culture and Communication at City Lit shared: “Our research clearly shows the growing importance of language skills in today’s global economy. At City Lit we recognise that being multilingual is no longer an asset, but a necessity in many industries.
Whether it’s in Management, Technology, Sales, or Education, the ability to communicate in multiple languages opens a wealth of opportunities. Our courses are designed to equip professionals with the language proficiency needed to thrive in these competitive sectors, ensuring our students are well-prepared to meet the demands of the modern workforce.”
Our team of experts at Kingsgate Recruitment can offer help and support on how to land that perfect role. We have a wealth of experience across a range of fantastic clients in different industries and are on hand to offer advice and career guidance from creating the perfect CV to securing your ideal job.
So, if you’re a candidate looking for a new role or a business looking to hire permanent staff members or need to recruit flexibly to meet demand, give us a call to discuss your plans for the future. We have seen a huge increase in the number of roles, talented candidates and fantastic graduates contacting us to secure their next role. Our team are hand to give expert advice and can look at sourcing top talent, ahead of your competitors, for when you’re ready to hire.
You can contact us via our website, drop us an email, or give us a call on 020 8549 7212.
Source :HR News