Why Learning a Second Language Pays Off (Even During Hard Times)

Why Learning a Second Language Pays Off (Even During Hard Times)

CEFR Level: B1-B2 | Reading Time: 7 minutes

1.You Can Earn More Money

People who speak more than one language often earn more than those who do not (Jaros-White, 2022). This is called a ‘wage premium.’

- In Florida (USA), people who speak English and Spanish earn about $7,000 (USD) more per year than people who only speak English (Hardach, 2018).

- In Canada, bilingual men earn about 3.6% more and bilingual women earn 6.6% more (Hardach, 2018).

- In India, men who speak fluent English earn about 34% more than those who do not. Even basic English can bring a 13% bonus (Nagarajan, 2014).

- In Poland, Spanish speakers earn up to 32% more than those who do not speak another language (Liwiński, 2019).

Some studies show that speaking a second language can help you earn over $128,000 (USD) more during your lifetime (Bacher, 2024).

2. More Job Options

Learning another language can help you find work in more places. You can apply for jobs in your home country or in other countries. Big companies want workers who can speak to clients from different countries. In fact, many companies say they prefer to hire bilingual workers.

 - In the United States, job advertisements asking for bilingual workers more than doubled between 2010 and 2015 (New American Economy, 2017).

- LinkedIn data shows that bilingual job seekers get 13% more job offers (Bacher, 2024).

- Bilingual skills are in demand in customer service, sales, management, IT, and many other fields.

This means more jobs, better job security, and more chances to work abroad.

3. Easier to Get Hired or Promoted

Even if you are not looking for work in another country, speaking a second language still helps. Bilingual candidates often have an advantage when applying for jobs.

- Many employers say they prefer bilingual staff for jobs in healthcare, retail, construction, and management (Colón, 2019).

- Speaking another language can help your CV stand out. It shows that you are flexible and can collaborate with different people.

Once you have the job, language skills can also help you get promoted. Bilingual workers often:

- Get promoted faster (Colón, 2019).

- Have more job security (Colón, 2019).

- Are chosen to lead international projects.

In fact, 1 in 4 U.S. companies say they have lost business because they didn’t have employees who spoke the right language (Jaros-White, 2022). This shows how valuable bilingual workers are.

4. Helps Business Owners Grow

If you own a business or want to start one, learning a language can help you grow. You can:

- Sell to customers in other countries.

- Talk directly to clients or partners.

- Understand local laws and culture.

In Europe, small businesses that invest in language skills are able to export more products and enter more countries. In one study, German businesses that hired bilingual staff added ten new countries to their export list. Businesses that did not use language skills missed out on deals (Hardach, 2018).

Also, American businesses lose over $2 billion (USD) each year due to misunderstandings caused by language and culture (Bacher, 2024). Business owners who speak more than one language may avoid these costly mistakes.

5. Makes You More Creative and Connected

People who speak more than one language often have better problem-solving skills. They can think in flexible ways and find creative solutions (Bacher, 2024). This helps in both jobs and business.

Multilingual business owners can also:

- Meet more people.

- Learn from diverse cultures.

- Attend international events.

They stay up to date with global trends and the latest ideas. This makes them more competitive in their industry.

6. Some Languages Offer Bigger Benefits

Some languages are especially valuable. English is in high demand worldwide. People who speak English often earn more and get more job opportunities (Nagarajan, 2014).

Other high-value languages include:

- Spanish: In the U.S., jobs for Spanish speakers grew by 150% over five years. Spanish is also useful for working in Latin America (New American Economy, 2017).

- Mandarin Chinese: Job advertisements asking for Mandarin tripled between 2010 and 2015. It is useful in business, tourism, and international trade (New American Economy, 2017).

- Arabic: Jobs needing Arabic grew by 150%. Arabic is important in the oil, gas, and security industries (New American Economy, 2017).

- German and French: These are useful in Europe, Africa, and Canada. German is especially valuable in engineering and business (Liwiński, 2019).

Even regional languages like Swahili, Hindi, and Russian can help in specific areas. The language you choose to learn can affect how much you benefit. But in general, all second languages add value.

Final Thoughts: A Smart Investment

Learning a second language is not just for fun. It is a skill that can change your life. Whether you want a better job, a higher salary, or to grow your business, language learning can help.

In challenging times, it is tempting to stop learning. But the research shows that language skills pay off - today and in the future.

Even a few words in a second language can make you more competitive. So, start where you are. Practice every day. And remember, it is not only what you know – it is also who you can speak to. 

References

Bacher, S. (2024) The Global Demand for Bilingual Professionals and Its Implications for Employers. Available at: https://businessleader.io/insight/the-global-demand-for-bilingual-professionals-and-its-implications-for-employers/ (Accessed: 8 May 2025).

Colón, I. (2019) New Research Examines the Economic Benefits of Bilingualism. Available at: https://www.newamerica.org/education-policy/edcentral/new-research-examines-economic-benefits-bilingualism (Accessed: 8 May 2025).

Hardach, S. (2018) Speaking more than one language can boost economic growth. Available at: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2018/02/speaking-more-languages-boost-economic-growth/ (Accessed: 8 May 2025).

Jaros-White, G. (2022) Why It Pays to Be Bilingual. Available at: https://www.languagetesting.com/blog/why-it-pays-to-be-bilingual/ (Accessed: 8 May 2025).

Liwiński, J. (2019) ‘The wage premium from foreign language skills’, Empirica 46, pp. 691–711. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10663-019-09459-0 

Nagarajan, R. (2014) 'English edge: Those who speak the language fluently "earn 34% more than others"', Times of India, 5 January. Available at: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/english-edge-those-who-speak-the-language-fluently-earn-34-more-than-others/articleshow/28414991.cms (Accessed: 8 May 2025).

New American Economy (2017) Demand for Bilingual Workers More than Doubled in 5 years, New Report Shows. Available at: https://www.newamericaneconomy.org/press-release/demand-for-bilingual-workers-more-than-doubled-in-5-years-new-report-shows/ (Accessed: 8 May 2025).