As part of National Bilingual/Multilingual Learner Advocacy Month in April, UNITE-LA released its latest report, Beyond English: Employer Perspectives on Language Skills at Work, which examines how employers view language skills in today’s economy and how multilingual talent is being leveraged across industries.

Grounded in direct input from employers, the report highlights the growing recognition of bilingual and multilingual skills as essential to business operations, competitiveness and workforce success—particularly as Los Angeles and California prepare for global events and continue to address workforce shortages in key sectors.

Findings show that many employers are already relying on multilingual workers in meaningful ways, while also seeking stronger systems to identify, support and elevate language skills within their organizations. This presents a clear opportunity to better align workforce and education systems with employer needs.

The report underscores the importance of integrating language development into workforce training, recognizing multilingualism as a measurable skill and expanding tools such as the State Seal of Biliteracy to strengthen talent pipelines.

Ultimately, investing in multilingual talent supports stronger employers, a more competitive regional economy and expanded pathways to economic mobility in a globally connected workforce.

Read the full report.