Dive Brief:

• Rosetta Stone Inc. has released its 2016 Business Impact Survey, which reveals the growing importance of language training for millennials in the workplace, and its positive impact on performance and confidence.

• In the survey, which polled some 900 companies and over 5,400 corporate users of Rosetta Stone’s language products, over half of millennials said language training improved their career outlook and has a positive impact on how employers perceive them. Additionally, 80% of the millennials said they had improved confidence as a direct result of participating in language training.

• Other evidence gathered by the survey includes insight into the millennial mindset as to training in general. Their findings indicate that training at work is often viewed as a perk to millennials, as, “59% report they are more likely to stay with their employer as a result of their company investing in them by providing lifelong language skills.”

Dive Insight:

Why would any company want to invest in language training, when there are so many other task-based aspects of learning and development to focus on? Turns out, language training can support employee retention, performance, and help millennials become future world leaders.

According to Judy Verses, President of Global Enterprise and Education at Rosetta Stone, “By 2025, millennials will comprise 75 percent of the workforce.  Their ability to grow and develop into global leaders capable of voicing their opinions in a variety of languages will make them more effective managers and far-thinking innovators.”

Their recent report indicates that 7 out of 10 millennials are able to expand their world view when they engage in learning training, which supports nearly half of the most globally-focused generation taking international assignments at some point in their career – a factor that’s good for business.