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19th November 2025

What the EF EPI 2025 reveals about global industry readiness

Insights from the 2025 EF English Proficiency Index

English proficiency has become a defining factor in global industry performance. It shapes how organizations share expertise, coordinate supply chains, and meet international standards. The EF English Proficiency Index (EPI) 2025 reveals how language skills vary across sectors and job functions, and where gaps in communication may limit productivity, safety, and innovation.

Dr. Christopher McCormick, Chief Academic Officer at EF Corporate Learning, highlights the most relevant regional and industry trends in proficiency.

Innovation advantage in high-performing sectors

Industries that depend on global knowledge exchange continue to lead. Information technology, professional services, and media all rank within the moderate proficiency band, with construction and engineering following closely.

In technology, English provides direct access to the world’s programming languages, software documentation, and developer networks. In professional services, it enables firms to manage cross-border regulation and client relationships. Strong proficiency accelerates innovation, since teams that work confidently in English can engage directly with new tools, research, and global peers, rather than relying on limited translations or intermediated communication. Similarly, as emerging technologies are often released first in English, language capability becomes a marker of digital maturity.

Operational industries facing communication risk

Sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, energy, and chemicals fall in the low proficiency band. In these environments, communication lapses carry operational and financial costs. Misunderstood safety instructions or production specifications can lead to delays and compliance risks.

Manufacturing depends on multi-layered global supply chains that rely on English for coordination. Strengthening language capability in engineering, quality assurance, and supervisory teams is therefore essential to improving consistency and reducing risk across international operations.

Raising standards in regulated and people-centered sectors

Healthcare ranks in the low proficiency band despite a growing demand for talent leading to international recruitment. With global shortages projected to exceed ten million health workers by 2030, according to the World Health Organization, limited English proficiency may slow onboarding for professionals recruited across borders and affect patient safety. Integrating English assessment and training into workforce planning can help ensure consistent care standards and effective team collaboration.

In aviation, the connection between language and safety is becoming embedded in regulation. From January 2026, all ground operations staff will be required to hold an ICAO English Language Proficiency certificate at Level 4 or above. This extension of existing standards recognizes that communication competence is integral to compliance.

Both defense and government rank among the lowest-scoring sectors. While their operations are often domestically focused, they depend on accurate cross-border communication for policy alignment and security cooperation. Strengthening language proficiency in these areas supports national capability and international collaboration.

Bridging skill gaps across job functions

The EF EPI also exposes disparities within organizations. Strategy, R&D, and IT roles show the highest proficiency, while support and operational functions lag behind. This imbalance can undermine execution, since leaders may communicate strategies effectively, but teams may struggle to apply them in multilingual contexts.

AI-enabled assessment tools now make it possible to measure all four proficiency skills free of charge across roles and regions, offering insight into where communication barriers exist. Targeted, role-specific, and even personalized learning interventions can close these gaps and ensure all employees are equipped for international collaboration.