From distributed teams to international partnerships, European organizations are operating across borders more than ever. And as work becomes more global, one skill is becoming more essential: English.
According to the TOEIC Global English Skills Report, 74% of HR leaders in France, 82% in Germany and 73% in Spain say global collaboration is increasing the need for English proficiency in their organizations.
Several structural changes in how Europeans work are accelerating the importance of English:
- Remote and hybrid work enable organizations to source talent beyond national borders.
- Cross-border hiring is becoming essential to fill skills gaps in competitive labor markets.
- Multinational teams require seamless collaboration across languages, time zones and cultures.
These trends are reshaping expectations for workplace communication. In Germany, for example, 95% of HR leaders say language proficiency among employees is more important today than it was five years ago — a higher percentage than the global average (92%).
Across Europe, the message is clear: without strong English communication, productivity and collaboration suffer.
For HR leaders, this means treating English proficiency as a strategic enabler, a core business skill, linked to organizational performance and growth.
Barriers to improving English skills at scale
Despite recognizing the importance of English, many European organizations struggle to implement effective solutions to strengthen workplace communication.
HR leaders cite several persistent barriers to improving English skills at a systemic level:
- Time constraints remain the top challenge in France (33%), Germany (40%) and Spain (41%).
- Lack of seamless integration with existing platforms is a major concern in Germany (40%).
- Uncertainty about trusted providers is a notable challenge in Germany (38%) and Spain (36%).
- Difficulty scaling solutions is a particular issue in Spain (38%).
Compounding the problem, many HR leaders report their current tools for measuring English skills fall short of key needs:
- In France, the biggest gap between importance and performance is in accurate measurement of speaking skills.
- In Germany, HR leaders say solutions underperform in assessment security.
- In Spain, HR leaders say their solutions lack proven quality in areas such as validity, reliability and fairness.
Without accurate, reliable tools for English proficiency measurement, organizations struggle to make informed decisions about hiring, development and workforce planning. As a result, English proficiency is recognized as a critical skill but is inconsistently addressed in European organizations.
Standardized assessments: a pathway to prioritizing English
One proven way forward is greater adoption of standardized, third-party English assessments.
Globally, organizations that use standardized assessments report stronger growth outcomes. These organizations are more satisfied with employees’ ability to build new partnerships and collaborate within and across multinational teams.
They also report more positive workforce outcomes overall, including improved workflow efficiency, employee productivity, retention and engagement.
European HR leaders themselves recognize the value of standardized assessments. In France, 55% agree that standardized assessments are very effective — the highest agreement among the European countries surveyed.
Yet despite their perceived effectiveness, standardized English assessments remain underused:
- 47% of HR leaders in France use standardized third-party assessments for hiring and screening
- 56% in Germany
- 46% in Spain
These figures fall short of the global average of 59%, revealing a significant opportunity. By investing in standardized, high-quality assessments for English, organizations can more effectively embed English as a core business skill.
Will English remain a priority skill?
If anything, European HR leaders expect the importance of English to grow even further.
The integration of AI tools into everyday workflows is accelerating this trend. Contrary to early assumptions that AI would compensate for language gaps, HR leaders increasingly see English proficiency as more important in an AI-enabled workplace:
- 74% of HR leaders in France say that AI integration is increasing the need for English proficiency at work
- 95% in Germany
- 74% in Spain
As AI tools rely heavily on English for interfaces, prompt generation and reviewing accuracy of output — employees with strong English language skills are better positioned to use the technology effectively and adapt to change.
At the same time, a more competitive labor market is amplifying the value of English proficiency. Majorities of HR leaders across Europe agree that increased competition will heighten the need for workplace English: 65% in France, 73% in Germany and 77% in Spain.
Connecting English to opportunity
European organizations that prioritize English now as a core business skill will be better positioned to compete globally, collaborate more effectively and unlock the full potential of their workforce.
To learn more about why English proficiency is a core business skill and how it connects to outcomes such as global collaboration, productivity and growth, download the full TOEIC Global English Skills Report.