Ukraine, China and Iraq are the three countries where employers are most likely to offer a better starting package to employees with good English skills, according to a new survey that highlights an English language skills gap at businesses worldwide.The vast majority of employers in Ukraine (83%) said they would offer additional benefits to English-speaking employees, along with 80% in China and 79% in Iraq.
In fact, more than half (57%) of the businesses in non-English speaking countries that took part in this year’s QS Global Employer survey said they provide a better starting package to potential employees with good English skills – including a higher salary, faster progression or more senior roles.
The top 10 non-English speaking countries where employers said they were most likely to make a better offer to a candidate with good English skills
They survey by QS and Cambridge English of more than 5,300 businesses worldwide, showed that nearly seven in 10 (69%) of employers based in countries and territories where English is not an official language said that English is nevertheless significant for their organisation.
More than 40% of these employers reported a skills gap when it comes to recruiting
Aerospace and defence was the area of business where English was most valued, with 89% of employers in non-English speaking countries rating it as important, followed by law, energy and telecoms.