AI Era Intensifies Demand for English Skills in Indian Workplace: ETS Survey
A comprehensive global survey conducted by Educational Testing Service (ETS), the organization behind the TOEIC English assessment, has revealed a significant shift in workplace skill expectations across India. The findings indicate that English language proficiency is becoming increasingly critical in the modern professional environment, particularly with the rapid integration of artificial intelligence.
Overwhelming Consensus on Growing Importance
According to the Global English Skills Report, which surveyed 1,325 HR decision makers across 17 countries including India, nearly 97% of Indian employers believe English proficiency among employees is more important today than it was five years ago. This sentiment is even stronger than the global average of 92%, highlighting India's particular emphasis on language skills in its evolving economy.
The research was conducted by The Harris Poll between September and October 2025, covering employers across diverse sectors including manufacturing, finance, services, and technology. The extensive scope of the survey provides a robust picture of current workplace language requirements.
AI Acceleration Rather Than Reduction
Contrary to expectations that artificial intelligence might diminish the need for language skills, the report found exactly the opposite trend. A substantial 87% of Indian employers believe the rapid adoption of AI is actually increasing the need for English proficiency in the workplace.
The report explicitly states: "Workers must be fluent in English to effectively interact with AI and fully capitalise on its benefits." Organizations increasingly view language proficiency as central to using AI tools effectively, generating appropriate prompts, and validating AI-generated outputs. This represents a fundamental shift in how language skills are perceived in relation to technological advancement.
Global Business Backbone
Across industries, employers consistently identify English as the backbone of cross-border collaboration and international business operations. The report emphasizes that "English, as the lingua franca of international business, is the standard medium for multinational team meetings, email exchanges and project management."
This linguistic standardization plays a crucial role in coordinating global teams and maintaining effective partnerships across geographical boundaries. As Indian companies expand their international presence, this language requirement becomes increasingly non-negotiable.
Transforming Hiring and Development Practices
The growing importance of English is fundamentally reshaping organizational practices in India. Currently, 80% of Indian companies already use English assessments during hiring or candidate screening processes. This figure slightly exceeds the global average of 78%, suggesting that language ability is becoming a routine evaluation parameter in recruitment across the country.
Assessments are increasingly integrated throughout employee development cycles as well. The survey revealed that 76% of organizations in India use English assessments before training programs, while 66% conduct post-training evaluations. This indicates that companies are systematically embedding language proficiency into their comprehensive workforce development strategies.
Global Talent Management Trends
Globally, the survey found similar patterns emerging across talent management practices:
- 78% of organizations use English tests for hiring purposes
- 71% employ pre-training evaluations to assess language readiness
- 66% utilize language assessments to determine promotion readiness
Employers anticipate this shift toward formal language testing will intensify as competition for skilled talent continues to grow worldwide. The integration of English proficiency metrics across the employee lifecycle represents a significant evolution in how organizations evaluate and develop their human capital.
The comprehensive nature of this research provides valuable insights into how language requirements are evolving in response to both technological advancement and globalization pressures. As artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into workplace processes, the ability to communicate effectively in English appears to be growing in importance rather than diminishing.
