With the effects of globalisation and the rise of technology, the role that multilingual speakers play throughout society is becoming increasingly important. Here at Remitly, we want to contribute to the wider discussion about multilingualism and identify which languages are the most in demand and why.
We’ve already mentioned globalisation, but what about technology? In today’s climate, ‘the office’ doesn’t have to mean a desk job in the city with a commute there and back. Statistics show that remote working has risen by around 27% since 2015. This increase in remote jobs has seen many employees work their jobs from overseas. In recent times, we’ve seen the coining of the term ‘Digital nomad’ to describe those who travel freely whilst using technology to carry out their work.
In light of these factors, it’s easy to see how foreign language proficiency is improving job prospects, career mobility and even earning potential. Being able to speak more than one language doesn’t just look great on a CV, it goes a whole lot further than that.
In today’s article, we’ll identify the most in-demand languages for UK job seekers in 2025 and how multilingualism can broadly enhance career prospects.
Why Language Skills Matter in the UK Job Market
Business & Trade
Despite Brexit, the UK still holds strong economic and political ties with European, Asian, and Middle Eastern countries. Many business and trade deals are stuck between foreign countries where language interpretation is required. This happens at both a macro and micro level, every single day.
Brexit & New Trade Agreements
Speaking of Brexit, the UK has seen a massive shakeup when it comes to international trade deals. Not only are multilingual speakers needed for trade deals, but for diplomatic reasons too.
Remote Work & Global Companies
We mentioned earlier about the effect of globalisation and the impact of technology on society. The consequences of a more connected world mean that UK companies must employ multilingual employees to manage international operations and overseas trade.
Before venturing down the remote working path, check with your employer (or prospective employer if you haven’t already applied) if there are any restrictions on remote work. Some companies won’t allow their employees to work from overseas due to security reasons and GDPR.
Customer Service & Sales Roles
With many customer service and sales roles moving toward automated systems, the accessibility to services internationally has grown. Take a company like Amazon for example, whose services now span 13 countries. As a result, companies have sought the expertise of multilingual professionals in finance, tech, healthcare, and retail.
Competitive Advantage
As job candidates develop their multilingual skills, so too does the global talent pool widen. This creates healthy competition for international trade markets who’s employers will become increasingly selective about who they employ.
The Most In-Demand Languages for UK Job Seekers
German
German-speaking multilingual job candidates are in high demand when it comes to finance, engineering, and trade due to strong UK-Germany economic ties.
Germany has the third-largest economy in the world, making it a big competitor on the world stage. It’s also an attractive destination for UK ex-pats thanks to its hospitable approach to English speakers. In fact, around 56% of Germans speak fluent English, making the transition easier for Brits in terms of working or living there.
Major employers include Banks like Deutsche Bank, automotive firms such as BMW and Audi, and multinational corporations such as Bosch and E-ON.
Major job roles include financial analysts, business consultants, and customer service representatives.
French
The UK and neighbouring France have significant geopolitical interests with one another. Fishing rights, foreign policy and immigration have all been subjects of great contention in the past few years. Still, their alliance remains strong and well-established trade routes and crossings are still very much in operation today.
Nonetheless, the importance of diplomacy, trade and legal sectors due to the proximity between the two countries gives rise to a need for skilled multilingual speakers.
Not only this, but the fallout of the Brexit deal has created new challenges and opportunities for potential job candidates.
Some popular job roles include International sales, legal professionals and interpreters.
Mandarin Chinese
Ranked a category IV language by the Foreign Language Institute, Mandarin Chinese is one of the harder languages to learn. It takes most English speakers approximately 2,200 hours to learn. For those who’ve mastered this language, exciting opportunities await.
However, as trade between the UK and China grows, so does the demand for foreign relations in industries like finance, marketing, and tech.
Major job roles include Investment analysts, supply chain managers, and export specialists.
Spanish
Unlike Mandarin Chinese, Spanish is one of the easier languages to learn. It takes a native UK speaker approximately 600 hrs to become proficient in the language. Not only this, but Spanish is the third most used language on the internet, making remote working jobs a popular choice for bilingual-speaking Brits.
With widespread global use and relevance in business, travel, and international customer service, Spanish is definitely a high-demand option.
Industries like tourism, education, and digital marketing offer great opportunities for those looking at roles like Marketing executives, language teachers, and hospitality.
Arabic
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the UK’s largest trading partner in the Middle East. Middle Eastern regions like the UAE and Dubai, have been fundamental to world trade relations, particularly in booming industries such as construction, energy and banking.
There is a growing demand for Arabic speakers in finance, media, and government roles.
Major job roles: Oil and gas consultants, interpreters, and international relations specialists.
Japanese
Japanese is one of the world’s fastest spoken languages with an average rate of 7.84 syllables per second. It also happens to be the 13th most spoken language in the world, making Japanese a strong contender when it comes to in-demand languages.
In Japan, there is a growing need for high-value skills and expertise. Thriving industries include the automotive sector, technology, and finance.
Popular job roles include Tech consultants, business development managers, and trade analysts.
Portuguese
Last on our list is Portuguese. Like Spanish, Portuguese is widely spoken and relatively easy to learn for Native English speakers.
Gaining significance across the globe, Portuguese speakers are sought after, particularly in the world of trade and investment. Most notably with Brazil due to its ancestral relations and well-established business relationship.
Amazingly, only 5% of Portuguese speakers worldwide live in Portugal. This shows just how versatile and widespread the language is.
In-demand industries include finance, Law, and logistics. Popular job roles include International business analysts, legal advisors, and customer service specialists.
How to Learn & Improve Language Skills for Career Growth
University Courses & Online Programs
Studying a language can be as expensive as you want to make it. You could go down the University route and get an undergraduate degree in your chosen language. Alternatively, you could download an app like Duolingo with the free version or opt for £12.99 a month for premium. Alternatives are available like Babbel, and Rosetta Stone.
Language Certifications
You could undertake a language proficiency test. Not only would this develop your language skills to a high standard, but you’d also get a certificate to showcase your expertise. Something that would look great on a CV.
Some of the language tests available include DELE (Spanish), DELF/DALF (French), HSK (Mandarin), and Goethe-Zertifikat (German).
Immersive Learning
Speaking regularly through immersive learning is one of the best ways to learn a language. Experts say that basic conversational proficiency can be achieved fart quicker through immersive learning as opposed to other types of learning.
Think about practising through language exchange groups, meetups, and travel. Repetition and continual immersion in another spoken language will yield excellent results. Not to mention it’s more fun learning this way!
Workplace Language Training Programs
Some UK companies, particularly those with foreign interests, offer their staff language courses. These may or may not be paid for but it’s worth enquiring with your employer about this.
Best Industries & Job Roles for Multilingual Professionals in the UK
Finance & Banking
Finance and banking is a global industry with far-reaching trade and business links. Pretty much any country will see multilingualism as a big tick in the box for any prospective job candidate. Countries with the highest demand for this sector include France, Germany, China and the UAE.
Technology & IT
A great many opportunities can be had by tech-minded individuals. Those who speak an additional language have the added benefit of being able to work remotely across the world. Software engineers, developers, UX researchers, digital marketers and AI consultants are sought after all over the world.
Healthcare & Medical Services
Every country needs healthcare and medical professionals. In remote countries with poor access to healthcare, there are many opportunities to provide healthcare through humanitarian aid. The United Nations often advertise job posts for medical professionals in some really exciting parts of the world.
Even those who don’t work in the healthcare sector, but who possess language skills are highly valued by these organisations.
Customer Service & Sales
Customer service and sales roles are a major part of many global companies. Many customer service systems now are automated or operated virtually, meaning they are accessed by customers globally. Employers value multilingual candidates who can provide a great service to their customers.
Legal & Compliance
When it comes to legal practice and corporate compliance, companies often rely on the services of multilingual speakers. For those large multinational corporations with foreign interests, it’s especially important to have a workforce of multilingual speakers.
Quick Summary
There is no shortage of in-demand languages for UK job seekers In 2025. We’ve picked out our top seven for reasons around business, trade, politics and economics. For UK job seekers who speak an additional language, there is no question that employers see this as a great advantage. This is especially so for larger companies with foreign interests.
For those who don’t yet speak another language but are interested in a career which requires multilingualism, there’s never been a better time to start learning. We’ve outlined some of the methods used to learn another language like immersive learning, language apps like Duolingo and University courses. There are options out there to suit all budgets and abilities.
We’d encourage readers interested in these jobs to research job opportunities requiring language skills, enroll in courses, and connect with multilingual professionals.
