Not Lost in Translation: The Growing Importance of Foreign Language Skills in the U.S. Job Market

This brief presents data documenting the United States' increasing need for multilingual workers. There is a need for languages such as Arabic, Chinese, and Spanish. While there are few students taking foreign languages, this country is home to over 42 million immigrants, the majority of whom speak languages other than English. This brief discusses the need to cultivate this resource as well as supporting native-born students to learn a second language. It cites the Seal of Biliteracy some states have adopted as one initiative that can promote bilingualism.