It Doesn’t Get More Essential Than Language Skills

Education benefits are a proven way to provide meaningful benefits to employees and employers by linking learning and work. Defraying the cost of education benefits while providing seamless workplace access to them offers an immediate upside for workers. For employers, education benefits are also tied to recruiting, retention, and even productivity improvements.

The more work-relevant a subject is, the greater the impact education and training can have on career advancement. Closing STEM skill gaps often comes to mind as a prime example. But our workforce systems often overlook another critical workforce skill gap. Language barriers create roadblocks to rewarding career pathways. To help adult learners overcome them, CAEL partners with EnGen, which offers an at-scale, AI-powered approach to English instruction.

In its just-released annual workforce report, EnGen notes that English learners comprise one in 10 working-age adults. Many of them possess competencies and credentials highly prized in the workforce. However, when English is overlooked in the capacity EnGen describes as a “foundational workforce skill,” so is this significant subpopulation of adult learners. 

CAEL views English upskilling as a substantial opportunity to increase access to individually rewarding career pathways that sustain growth sectors critical to community prosperity. EnGen’s report underscores this potential, which it is collaborating with CAEL to maximize in employer partnerships throughout the country.

The report includes a review of survey responses from more than 6,000 English learners who access English upskilling through adult learning, employer, or workforce development programs. The results show that English upskilling leads to significant improvements in employee retention, confidence, communication, job skills, digital skills, and overall life navigation. 

For example, 84% of respondents said they would remain with their current company because English upskilling is offered as an employee benefit. A strong majority (79%) said the upskilling was responsible for attaining a pay raise or promotion. When asked if that benefit would prompt them to refer someone to their place of employment, 86% of respondents said it would. 

Since language is a pervasive skill, the impact of these upskilling opportunities transcends the workplace and even English itself. Ninety percent of respondents said English upskilling improved their digital skills, and 94% said they felt more confident using English not only at work but beyond.

The full report is available at the EnGen website. In addition, on June 17 at 2 p.m. ET, EnGen will host a webinar discussion of the 2025 Workforce Report. The event will feature EnGen founder Katie Brown, Ph.D., Stuart Andreason from The Burning Glass Institute, Megan Dichter from Maine Department of Education, Joan Dolan from Maine Department of Labor, and Ashley Faubion from CAEL. Panelists will explore how English upskilling enhances retention, recruitment, and engagement. Register here.