Most Popular Languages in 2021 for Job Seekers

With a new year comes resolutions about popular languages that people want to accomplish. If your new year’s resolution is to learn a new language in 2021, keep reading. 
Do you dream of becoming a “polyglot”? What is that? It’s someone who knows and is able to communicate in multiple languages. 

Being a polyglot comes with its own advantages. For instance, there’s a bigger job market available to you. Plus, you can focus on clients speaking the various languages that you are fluent in, not just limiting yourself to one language. This increases your job opportunities drastically. Moreover, people who know more languages stand a higher chance of getting hired. Why? Because it’s an excellent addition to your resume. On top of these job market advantages, being a polyglot comes with cultural enrichment. You are able to dive into literature and understand the history of your second, third, or fourth language better. Learning languages definitely broadens your worldview. 

When it comes to choosing which of the popular languages to learn, it might be hard to decide since there are so many spoken throughout the world. 
Below, we’ll offer things to consider when choosing which languages to learn. 

Most Popular Languages Spoken

The first thing you should find out when learning a new language is how many people speak it. When looking at the number of speakers, we make a distinction between native and non-native speakers. Looking at native speakers only, Mandarin Chinese ranks number one with 921 million speakers, which is followed by Spanish with 463 million native speakers. Third is English, which has 370 million speakers. 

When combining non-native speakers with native speakers, English ranks number one with about 1.3 billion speakers. Mandarin Chinese is at number two with about 1.1 billion speakers, and Hindi stands third with 637 million speakers. Other languages included in the top 10 of most popular languages spoken are Spanish, French, Arabic, Bengali, and Portugese. 

Keeping these numbers in mind, you now have a better idea of how popular languages rank in this world. Another thing you can look at is how the language is spread throughout the world. For example, Mandarin Chinese might have the highest number of native speakers, but it is mostly used in Asia. English, on the contrary, has many more non-native speakers all over the world. This might also influence your choice of language in case you want to focus on one specific continent or be open to working virtually anywhere. 

Most Powerful Languages 

Beside the number of speakers of a language, there are some other factors that can be considered when choosing a language. The Power Language Index takes into account five opportunities that languages provide: geography, economy, communication, knowledge & media, and diplomacy. 

Based on these five opportunities, the Power Language Index lists the 10 most influential languages in the world. Currently, the most powerful language is English, which is followed by Mandarin Chinese. We note that French is ranked number three. It is interesting to see this because Spanish actually has more speakers than French. Nevertheless, French scores higher because of geography. Why? Because French is also spoken in many African countries. Additionally, French is still one of the main languages used in diplomatic circles and for international relations. 

Another thing worth pointing out is that the Power Language Index lists German and Japanese in the top 10, yet these languages didn’t make it to the top 10 of most spoken languages. As a result, knowing German or Japanese gives you a more powerful position than Bengali or Indonesian. The latter two languages might have a lot of speakers, but they are not mentioned in Table 1. German and Japanese specifically are quite high on the economy rank. 

United Nations Official Languages 

Six languages that were indicated by the Power Language Index and made it to the top 10 of most speakers in the world are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish. These languages are also official languages used by the United Nations (UN). 

Knowing one or more of these languages can be of great help if you want to work for the UN. The United Nations is an employer of many language professionals including translators, interpreters, editors, and reporters. With different departments and commissions all over the world, it is definitely a working place worth applying to if you are looking for an adventurous job that requires language skills. Plus, working for the UN is a great addition to your resume. 

Other Job Opportunities

Knowing one of the languages listed in the previously mentioned top 10 lists can also help you find jobs outside of the United Nations. Thinking of becoming a language teacher? This can be done online by tutoring students from all over the world or in a classroom setting. You could also become an editor or proofreader for one of these languages. The choices are virtually limitless! Just make sure you’re clear about what exactly you are looking for or how you would like to position yourself in the job market. 

What Else to Keep in Mind

Another aspect that you can consider when choosing a language is the country you want to find work in. Maybe the language of your choice is not that common in that specific country, so it will limit finding clientele. In case you are not targeting one specific country but want to keep your scope as broad as possible, choose a language that is found all over the world.

Like mentioned before, English is spoken on various continents just like French and Spanish. Mandarin Chinese or Arabic, however, are more limited to specific areas in the world. Still, you could use more centered languages as well in other parts of the globe to focus on specific clients like expats or refugees. If you want to work in a certain branch, it could help make you stand out as one of the few who know a language that might not be so common in that part of the world. 

In addition, when choosing a language to study, take into consideration its difficulty level. If the language is close to your mother tongue, it will be easier for you to learn than one that is vastly different. Spanish, for example, would be easier to learn for a Portugese speaker than Mandarin Chinese.

Besides the language difficulty playing a role, your personal interest also is a factor. Yes, the language might be very different from your native language. However, if you are driven to learn it because of your own preference, you will have more motivation to study the language. This is in contrast to if the language was recommended to you by an outsider. Your personal preference goes hand-in-hand with your motive. Why do you want to know this language? Is it only to improve your job opportunities? Or are you also interested in moving to a country where the language is spoken to enrich yourself with its culture? 

Another factor that can influence your choice is the cost to study. How are you planning to learn the new language? In case you want to take classes, what are the prices for classes? Can you find courses nearby, or will you have to travel to attend them? Fortunately, a lot of classes for popular languages can be found online. You could also hire a language tutor for individual classes or purchase software to help you learn the language. 

Takeaway

When choosing a language to study, we pointed out several factors to consider. Take a look at the number of speakers and the countries the language is spoken in. Also, you can take into account the economic power of a certain language. In case you are looking for a job as a language professional at the United Nations, make sure you speak one or two of the six official languages. Moreover, you can also pay attention to your personal preference of a language, the difficulty level, and the costs associated with learning a new language.

Overall, being a polyglot will improve your chances of finding a job. Language skills are a great addition to your resume, and knowing multiple languages gives you opportunities for more clientele across the globe.