Top 6 Best Languages to Learn for 2024

Even with a slight downturn in global economic cooperation caused by the Pandemic and the increasing US & China rift, international transactions and deal-making are still at their highest points in history according to Foreign Policy. With that, learning a language is one of the most sought-after skills employers look for, with the proportion of postings for bilingual workers on Glassdoor increasing by 300% from 2010 according to Forbes. However, the US with its infamous language curriculum is at a disadvantage compared to more multilingual societies in Europe and Asia. Yet this raises the question: which languages are the most important to succeed in the new global economy? 

1. Mandarin Chinese

Speaking Mandarin Chinese allows you to communicate in China, Taiwan, Singapore, and many countries in Southeast Asia. The Foreign Service Institute classifies it as a high-priority language for the United States, and many universities have expanded their Chinese offerings in past years. China, while relatively closed off to Western ventures, preferring to rely on domestic firms or joint ventures, is a hub for manufacturing, technical services, and AI development. Singapore is Asia’s New York, while Taiwan is home to the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturer. Despite the language’s challenging writing and pronunciation, its grammar is relatively easy. In many cases, the most valuable skills for Business Chinese are reading and writing, with speaking being important but mispronunciation not the biggest issue. So get out your Chinese character boxes and start writing!

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2. Spanish

The language of the Americas, Spanish is the 2nd most spoken language based on heritage speakers. While there are many Spanish speakers residing in the United States, speaking Spanish offers a plethora of advantages both domestically and abroad, helping communication with many low-skilled workers who only speak English. In the United States, many professionals find that speaking Spanish lowers communication barriers in their domestic offices, especially in industries that deal with low-income people such as healthcare and social services workers. Spanish is highly similar to English, but there are some notable differences. The skill that is most important for this language is speaking, with writing and reading taking a back seat. 

3. Arabic

Arabic is a complex and vibrant language, much like the region where it is spoken. In one corner of the Middle East, you can find civil wars and abject poverty, but just a 2-hour flight away you can find the spotlight of Netflix’s newest luxury reality TV show: Dubai Bling. With Arabic, the main differences are, well, everything: the alphabet, the pronunciation, even the direction of the writing. When digging deeper into learning Arabic, there are many different types to choose from, all highly different from one another. However for professional use, Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) is the most useful, but beware, when you try to speak it you may get some funny looks as no one actually speaks it. 

4. Python

While not an actual spoken language, Python demonstrates similar qualities: the ability to read and write in it for example, and also the disheartening feeling you get when you look at it and realize you don’t understand anything. As AI, machine learning, and automation become more prevalent across industries, proficiency in programming languages such as Python will be essential for professionals in technology, data science, and AI development.

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5. French

Known as the language of love, French is famous for its role in cinema, gastronomy, and fashion. Yet for the future, French is most useful in the lands France colonised in the Past: Africa, particularly the Sahel. Many of the countries of the Sahel have low English proficiencies but have fast-growing economies with countless potential for foreign direct investment and job opportunities in health care, finance, natural resources, or diplomacy. Kind of ironic how the lands that the language conquered are the only regions that give it its usefulness in the 21st century.

6. Hindi

While India has over 100 million English speakers, this is comparable to just 10% of its population. Even this estimate is generous, however, when you account for fluency and ease of comprehension. India’s economic growth and potential need no introduction. Recently overtaking China's population, India has become the largest democracy in the world and is a beacon for foreign direct investment (FDI). While Modi has nationalised more of the country’s industry, there are still plenty of opportunities to work there. India, like Arabic and Chinese, has a vastly different writing system than English. 

Honourable Mentions:

Portuguese, Russian, and Japanese are all important languages for the future in many industries. 

Brazil is a rising star, and despite recent economic woes remains a hotspot for FDI in Latin America. Portuguese is also used in Africa and Europe, but its major economic use relies on its use in Brazil serving as an important language for healthcare and people working in industries tied to FDI. 

Russian is perhaps the only remnant of the USSR that poses an advantage to the US worker as its use extends beyond just Russia. While many countries try to remove it from use to distance themselves from Putin, Russian is still an important language for diplomacy and business, serving as the lingua franca of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. 

While famous for its cultural relevance from Anime, Japanese is also highly useful due to Japan’s relevance in AI and technological production.