Nine in 10 workers would use employer-funded language learning, study finds

More than nine in 10 employees would take advantage of employer-funded language learning if it were offered as a workplace benefit, according to research from online tutoring platform Preply.

The study found 93% of workers would use language learning opportunities provided by their employer, as employees increasingly look for benefits that support long-term career development and international opportunities.

Preply’s 2026 Language and Global Career Mobility Report, based on a survey of 1,869 people across the UK, US and Canada, revealed that language skills are increasingly viewed as a way to improve employability.

The research also found that 44% of respondents had either lost a job themselves or knew someone close to them who had within the past two years.

Among Gen Z respondents, this rose to 63%.

French, Italian and German were identified as the languages most in demand among UK employers, with French and German also featuring prominently across international labour markets.

Madeline Enos, communications manager at Preply, said: “Employees are increasingly looking for benefits that help them build long-term career security rather than simply enhancing day-to-day wellbeing.

“In an uncertain economic climate, language learning is emerging as a highly valuable benefit because it equips employees with skills that are portable, future-focused and relevant in an increasingly international labour market.”