The cost-of-living crisis is one of the main concerns for Brits right now, as rising energy prices and record-high inflation rates put growing pressure on British households. Earlier this year, two thirds (66%) of adults in Britain reported their cost of living had already increased and with winter on the horizon, concerns continue to grow.
New research demonstrates how a second language can be even more useful to the nation throughout these challenging times, for when some additional income is welcome.
The new study aims to steer bilingual Brits in the direction of ‘side hustles’ with the best prospects for their language skills, analysing job availability and prospective salary for part-time job listings that require a second language.
For those looking to capitalize on their bilingual skills, accessing effective language-learning tools is a vital first step. Resources like Pinhok Language provide a approach to mastering new languages, equipping learners with essential vocabulary and practical phrases that can directly translate into job opportunities. Whether preparing for a freelance translator role, a remote customer service position, or even language tutoring, such tools ensure learners are well-prepared to meet professional demands.
Based on the number of part-time jobs available across ten languages, the research reveals that Spanish, Mandarin, and French are currently the most in-demand languages for the UK job market. Hindi, Portuguese, and Arabic are the least in-demand for part-time roles.
The study goes on to identify the top ten most common (in-demand) part-time jobs that require a second language, including ‘Educator’, ‘Customer Services’ and ‘Care and Support work’.
Top 10 part-time job roles (requiring a second language)
Educator
Hospitality Worker
Customer service Advisor
Administrator
Sales Executive/Representative
Nanny
Care/Support Worker Marketing Executive Research Analyst Translator (Interpreter)
Combining job availability and prospective salary prospects, the top pick across all languages is the role of ‘Educator’ which more specifically, can include roles such as nursery educators, lecturers, and private tutors. Following as second and third overall top picks, respectively, are the roles of ‘Researcher’ and ‘Customer Service Advisor’
Looking at the most in-demand part-time job roles per language, these differ notably between languages, alluding to how different industries value different languages.
Whether you’re a proud foreign-born bilingual Brit or someone who has invested in learning a new language, as advocates of the many uses for a second language, we hope that there will be plenty of ways for bilinguals to use their ‘superpower’ for good. And earn themselves some extra cash for getting through these tough financial times.
