Over 80% of HR leaders in Saudi Arabia link AI-driven job changes to rising demand for English proficiency

Organisations across Saudi Arabia are increasingly treating English proficiency as a strategic workforce capability rather than a secondary communication skill, as companies accelerate AI adoption, expand international operations, and compete for global talent, according to the latest by ETS.

The insights from TOEIC Global English Skills Report, found that 94% of employers in Saudi Arabia believe English proficiency is critical to organisational success, while 90% said its importance has grown significantly over the past five years. The findings point to a broader shift in how businesses across the Kingdom are redefining workforce readiness in an economy increasingly shaped by digital transformation and cross-border collaboration.

A major theme emerging from the research is the growing connection between AI adoption and language capability. According to the survey, 83% of HR leaders said AI integration is increasing the need for workplace English proficiency, while an overwhelming 99% said evolving job responsibilities caused by AI automation are creating stronger demand for English skills.

The findings suggest that as organisations deploy AI-driven systems, employees are increasingly required to engage with English-language interfaces, prompts, technical documentation, and international workflows. Rather than replacing human communication skills, AI appears to be amplifying the importance of language proficiency within organisations.

“English proficiency is increasingly tied to how organisations collaborate, hire, and grow in a global business environment,” said Don Schmidt. “The UAE findings reflect how employers are approaching workforce readiness at a time when AI adoption and international collaboration are reshaping the workplace.”

While Schmidt referenced the broader regional findings, the Saudi Arabia data reinforces a wider Gulf trend in which businesses are aligning workforce development strategies with international business standards and emerging technologies.

Ratnesh Jha said the research highlights a critical misconception surrounding AI and workforce skills.

“AI doesn’t close the skills gap. People do,” Jha said. “What this research makes clear is that English is now a core workforce capability, not a soft skill. It’s how employees collaborate across borders, how organisations unlock the value of AI, and how talent stays relevant in a rapidly changing economy.”

The report also reveals that English assessments are becoming deeply embedded in talent management practices across Saudi organisations. 

Around 84% of employers said they already use English assessments during hiring and screening processes, while the same percentage use them before training programs. Meanwhile, 75% use English assessments for post-training evaluation and promotion readiness.

This growing reliance on standardised assessments reflects a broader corporate push toward measurable workforce capability, particularly in sectors where multinational operations and digital transformation are accelerating.

Notably, organisations using standardised third-party English assessments reported stronger business outcomes, including improved collaboration, higher employee satisfaction, stronger organisational growth, and better competitive positioning. 

The findings indicate that employers increasingly see language capability as directly linked to productivity and operational efficiency rather than simply employee communication.

The report also signals a potential long-term shift in hiring norms within Saudi Arabia’s labor market. Forty-two percent of employers said English assessments are already mandatory for all new hires, while another 43% expect such requirements to become standard practice within the next five years.

This trend could have significant implications for workforce development, education providers, and job seekers in Saudi Arabia, particularly as the Kingdom continues to position itself as a regional hub for technology, tourism, finance, and international investment under Vision 2030.

At the same time, the findings point to growing employer concerns over competitiveness. 83% of respondents said inadequate English proficiency creates a competitive disadvantage, while 93% said their organisations would become more efficient if stronger English assessments were integrated into hiring practices.