... the requirement to take a language at GCSE level was ended in 2004, 76% of employers are not satisfied with the level of these skills among young people
Only 27% of businesses say they have no need for foreign language
skills. Languages are particularly important in sectors such as
manufacturing and banking, finance and insurance, reflecting the
globalisation of these organisations. The greatest single demand for
these skills is in building relationships overseas, cited by 21% of
companies. The core European languages are still most in demand from
employers – French (61%), German (52%) and Spanish (40%), followed by
Polish (29%) and Mandarin (23%).
A full copy of the CBI / EDI Education & Skills survey 2011 can be found here.