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ETS has released the Global English Skills Report, based on a survey of over 1,300 HR decision-makers across 17 countries. The findings position English proficiency as a foundational workforce capability in the modern era, especially as organizations accelerate AI adoption and global expansion, rather than something AI can replace.
Quick Intel
The TOEIC Global English Skills Report from ETS challenges the notion that AI can bridge language gaps in professional settings. While AI tools are increasingly embedded in workflows, the survey reveals that human English proficiency remains indispensable for effective collaboration, global operations, and maximizing AI value.
Employers overwhelmingly affirm that English is no longer a "soft skill" but a core competency. Nine in ten respondents indicate English proficiency is required to interact with AI systems—generating precise prompts, interpreting outputs accurately, and applying results meaningfully. This underscores AI's role as an amplifier of communication needs rather than a substitute.
"AI doesn't close the skills gap. People do," said Ratnesh Jha, Global General Manager of Institutional Products at ETS. "What this research makes clear is that English is now a core workforce capability, not a soft skill. It's how employees collaborate across borders, how organizations unlock the value of AI, and how talent stays relevant in a rapidly changing economy. Companies that invest in English proficiency are investing directly in productivity, innovation, and global competitiveness."
Business outcomes are closely tied to English proficiency. Standardized assessments are widely used for recruitment (78%), pre-training evaluation (71%), and promotion readiness (66%), with third-party tools rated most effective. Organizations employing such assessments report advantages in organizational growth, competitive positioning, employee productivity, workflow efficiency, and professional development.
Looking forward, 84% of employers expect increased investment in English assessments and education within five years in their countries. As AI integration deepens and cross-border collaboration grows, the report positions English proficiency as a strategic enabler for workforce readiness, talent mobility, ethical technology use, and sustained economic competitiveness.
About ETS
ETS is a global education and talent solutions organization enabling lifelong learners to be future ready. Our mission – advancing the science of measurement to power human progress – ensures our focus to enable everyone, everywhere, to demonstrate their skills and chart their path to future readiness for life. We are committed to readying 100M+ people for the next generation of jobs by 2035. We deliver on this commitment through trusted assessments and skills solutions – including TOEFL, TOEIC, GRE, Praxis and Futurenav – and groundbreaking initiatives powered by our Research Institute. With a robust global footprint, including subsidiaries (PSI), offices and operations in more than 200 countries and territories, we help over 50 million individuals each year measure their proficiency and unlock new opportunities.
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