There will be a global talent shortage of more than 85 million people by 2030. In the hospitality industry, nearly 40% of businesses are facing skilled worker shortages. Meanwhile, airlines are struggling to recover from pandemic layoffs that saw 400,000 airline workers lose their jobs. 

While this gap will impact both developed and developing nations, businesses in emerging markets will likely be hit hardest as they struggle to compete for the finite supply of human capital.

We may see more attractive salaries, resources, and upskilling opportunities shift to more mature locations. If businesses in emerging markets don’t invest in future generations of workers now, they risk falling behind.

While businesses in emerging markets are some of the most resilient and innovative, they need to invest in education to foster and retain workers in the pending global talent shortage. They can apply their creativity to training sessions that not only build new skill sets but encourage people to work in their domestic markets. Fueling stronger industries and talent hubs.

Communication continues to be one of the most important skills in the working world. It will be even more in demand as globalization and the remote shift define modern job roles.

Businesses in emerging markets prioritizing communication skills will therefore have an advantage in securing talent. Thus, not only withstanding the pending global shortage but grow in it.

Here’s a look at how:

Tap into rising job opportunities

In the digital realm, customer-facing positions remain valuable. Businesses want humans speaking to humans, and in the business language of the world, English. 

In fact, many international companies have already taken the decision to adopt English as their primary language, regardless of what country they’re based in. Additionally, customer-facing industries like airlines and business process outsourcing (BPOs) are increasingly looking to emerging markets to hire. 

Positions in these verticals require fluency in English. Representatives have to communicate with customers worldwide and uphold the reputation of global brands. Applicants with an advanced level of English will be more desirable. They will also be prepared to deal with customers speaking English with various accents and in several conversational contexts.

Workers in emerging economies are increasingly learning and using business English from day one, giving them a strong advantage. The benefit of learning English this way is that it can create a domino effect in emerging markets. Once there is a pool of English-proficient workers championing teams in expanding sectors, more people will want to follow in their footsteps. In turn, more programs and pathways will be established to fuel English language learning and support future generations of workers in industries like airlines and BPOs.

For example, United Airlines seeks to recruit 50,000 workers from around the world, including emerging markets. At the same time, BPOs are turning to Africa for outsourcing centers. As more developing locations invest in English learning, they will become the preferred destinations for both airline and BPO recruitment. 

Improve professional communication

Communication training doesn’t just teach workers English grammar and vocabulary. It sets them up to apply their English in real-life contexts. 

Students can role play stressful or complex situations, such as speaking with a customer who has missed their flight and needs information about how to rebook quickly – or dealing with a customer who has called a BPO service center to request a refund. 

Practicing such events allows students to develop their confidence in English and to recognize how best to align with a brand’s tone of voice and messaging.

Additionally, training can equip workers to speak and listen to English via different mediums, whether talking over the phone, responding in instant message chats, or crafting emails. Workers must be versatile with their English capabilities. This quality makes them more attractive to companies that communicate with customers across multiple channels.

Secure a skilled workforce for the long term

There are claims that non-English speakers are shut out of the top jobs because fluent speakers are able to career switch with greater ease and secure higher-paid, more competitive positions.

Workplaces in emerging markets that commit to learning English now can nurture a multilingual talent pool. People can access top jobs and won’t miss out on work opportunities purely because of their language skills.

Doubling down on communication equally opens doors to other forms of training that can serve people in emerging markets. Companies and organizations could choose to launch coding courses or leadership classes that are only available in English. These would give workers an even more powerful advantage to be considered for, and accepted into, high level vacancies.

ELSA’s growing global presence

English language learning resources like ELSA play a big part in boosting communication skills in emerging markets. The AI-driven, speech-recognition technology is the go-to solution for airline companies, BPOs, and other industries looking to teach their teams English at scale.

ELSA offers tailor-made modules for specific industries, giving learners digestible, practical tasks to build their confidence and capabilities in English. 

Learners simply respond to prompts by speaking into the app. Then, they receive detailed feedback about their pronunciation, fluency, intonation, and more. And, because ELSA is accessible from any device, at any time, workers aren’t restricted by coordinating in-person classes. 

As a result, they can maintain a regular, high-quality English learning momentum.

Candidates from emerging markets are some of the most qualified and motivated in the world and deserve to be included in the future workforce. Communication in English is a springboard for emerging market talent to reach their potential. 

Along the way, tools like ELSA can help individuals continually improve their English, learn the most relevant business terminology, and stay atop communication trends for good.
Do you want to learn how ELSA can take your team’s communication skills to the next level and safeguard your business against the global talent shortage? Request a free demo.