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The Impacts of English Language Proficiency on Employment Opportunities

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DOI: 10.47991/2835-6764/AJSER-183

Research Article American Journal of Science Education Research

The Impacts of English Language Proficiency on Employment

Opportunities
Besmillah Daqiq* , Sayeed Asif Akramy , Amir Mohammad Barati
English Department, Takhar University, Afghanistan
*Corresponding author: Besmillah Daqiq, English Department, Takhar University, Afghanistan. Email(s): besmillahraqiq
@gmail.com (BD); [email protected] (SAK); [email protected] (AMB)
Citation: Daqiq B, Akramy SA, Barati AM (2024) The Impacts of English Language Proficiency on Employment Opportunities.
American J Sci Edu Re: AJSER-183.
Received Date: April 10, 2024; Accepted Date: April 25, 2024; Published Date: May 01, 2024

Abstract
This study mainly aimed to investigate the impacts of English language proficiency on employment. Therefore, it tried to present
answer to the research questions. A questionnaire with 22 closed-ended items was utilized to collect the data from 250
individuals who were graduated from English department of Takhar, Kunduz, and Badakhshan universities. Some of the study
participants were employed and some of them were unemployed. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the
data. The result of the study revealed that the importance of English was associated with increased connectivity due to
globalization. The study also concluded that the importance of English for finding jobs and making a career was well-
established. To conclude, it can be said that English and employment are correlative with each other and English language
proficiency is amongst the top global employment skills in the viewpoint of educated individuals in Afghanistan academia.
Keywords: Proficiency, English language, employment conditions, impacts, effects.

Introduction have insightful impact on employment (Debrah & Smith, 2002).

Today the world countries and Afghanistan in particular are A language achieves a genuinely global status when it develops
witnessing a third industrial revolution namely communication a special role that is recognized in every country. English is the
revolution. This successively is having an important impact on language of global economy, international banking, most
business and workplace. In the international commercial sphere scientific publications, and advertising for popular brands,
English has become lingua-franca of the business world internet communications, and international law.
regardless of geographical, social, political or religious
differences (Pandey & Pandey, 2014). It is being recognized as Moreover, English plays a key role in Afghanistan job market
one of the sixth official languages of the United Nations. now as it has been important around the globe in the last few
Previously people used to get a job if they possessed expertise decades. In terms of participation in the global economy, the
in their respective fields, but in the current era the specific skills employees may have to acquire the necessary skills, particularly
should be complemented with communication skills. The need English language to better demonstrate their abilities in the
for giving emphasis on English communication development is workplace (Akramy, 2022; Akramy, et al., 2022b; Al-Issa,
of utmost important in the present scenario with an objective to 2014). Currently in Afghanistan context, gaining jobs with
make the job aspirants gainfully employed (Granovetter, 1983). satisfactory salary and privileges requires good English
language proficiency. Hence, the present study aimed to seek the
In the last few decades, the importance of English raised to a effects of English language proficiency on employment
vast extent (Lucas, 2004). It has become an important opportunities in Afghanistan. This study is going to be
instrument of communication, both at the international and conducted to help Afghan students who are currently students in
intra-national levels over the years. The importance of spoken different higher education institutions and those who have
English is even more because there are many cases where one already graduated to solve their English language problems
knows their subject well, but they fail to communicate it in good while facing in the job interviews and the responsibilities they
manner (Batra, 2013). Therefore, the practice of spoken English will hold in the workplace.
is absolutely necessary. Learning English in a country where it
is not an original language like Afghanistan opens a series of This study will be significant because most of the studies were
opportunities for the individuals. In today’s corporate world, the conducted in developed and developing countries where there
need for operative communications have been recognized and are better infrastructure and facilities, though, Afghanistan has
accepted more than the technical knowledge (Adelman, 1990). been facing decades of war and instabilities which resulted in
the deficiency of resources and limitation of technological
Globalization which has created an impact on all walks of life, facilities. Unfortunately, no study was found to focus on the
has also helped the spread of English. It has transformed English effects of English language proficiency on employment
into the predominant language of the world and it is the conditions in Afghanistan. Therefore, this research will address
prominently used language in almost every walk of life. Further, the gap by investigating the effects of proficiency in English
globalization has a deep relation with English language language on employment and it offers insights into the
(Antonia-Silles, 2018). Globalization and English language both preference of the English proficiency and getting jobs.

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Citation: Daqiq B, Akramy SA, Barati AM (2024) The Impacts of English Language Proficiency on Employment Opportunities.
American J Sci Edu Re: AJSER-183.

The current research study aims to explore and investigate the of study’s objective was on the hotel industry and human
relations and effects of English language proficiency on resource management. He recommended that English is very
employment conditions in Afghanistan. Therefore, the much necessary for students so that they could easily adopt to
following research questions were formulated to assess the the job and place themselves in the concerned market (Rahman,
objectives of the study. 2020).
1. What is the relation between English language proficiency
and employment? According to another study conducted by Dustmann and Fabbri
2. How does English language proficiency affect career (2003) on language proficiency and labor market, the findings
opportunities for Afghanistan graduates? revealed that in simple regression, language proficiency is
associated with higher employment probabilities and with
Literature Review higher earnings. Also, their findings showed that 73% of
Globalization which has created an impact on all walks of life employees in Pakistan need English language as a main issue of
has also helped the spread of English language (Appadurai, employment. Another study which assessed employers’
2001). Globalization has transformed English into the perception on Malaysian graduates focused on the services
predominant language of the world (Rahman, 2020) and it is the sector (Ismail et al., 2011). The authors had respondents who
prominently used language in almost every walk of life. It is were made up of senior human resource managers in the services
used as an international language and remains the official industry surveyed on graduate’s performance and the difference,
language of many countries in addition to its role as the language if any, between local graduates and overseas graduates. Though
of instruction, particularly of advanced education (Kamran & overall the employers are satisfied with graduates’ performance,
Mansoor, 2017). So far, scholars and researchers have attempted there were still room for improvement. The authors found that
to label strong connection between English language and the respondents felt that graduates needed to improve soft skills,
globalization under various terms: English as Lingua Franca which include communication skills, Malay and English
(Jenkins, 2007), English as International Language (Sharifian, language proficiency, writing skills, thinking skills, decision
2009), or World English (Crystal, 2003). Hence, research on the making and problem-solving skills, ICT skills, work planning,
role of English in creating nations unfolds that this language is value and ethics, self-confidence, characteristic and attitude as
utilized as a gateway to enter into prestigious social positions well as leadership and personality. In addition, the authors found
(Coleman, 2010; Haidar & Fang, 2019). Thus, English plays a that employers felt that local graduates were better at skills
pivotal role in assessing the suitability of graduates for gaining among others such as problem solving and being a team player,
employment. The importance of English in international while overseas graduates were better in study area, thinking skill
students’ mobility has also been well recognized for many years, and English language proficiency (Ismail et al., 2011).
as manifested in the international English language competency
tests (Doan & Hamid, 2019; Xion & Yuan, 2018). The use of English has exponentially increased in Afghanistan
since the arrival of the international community particularly the
Roshid and Chowdhury (2013) carried out a study about English USA in Afghanistan in 2001. Currently, English is used in many
language proficiency and its effects on employment in Australia. areas in the country. It is widely used in education, business,
The findings of the study reported that English language has economy, government, and media, e.g., social networking cites
generally been seen as one of the important determinants of (Daqiq, 2021; Orfan, 2020; Orfan et al., 2021; Noori et al.,
employment in recent decades in the English-speaking areas. 2022).
They found that English language proficiency has a positive
impact on employments and earnings. Another study was Methodology
conducted by Casale and Posel (2011), who found out that Research design
English language proficiency affected career opportunities of The researchers used a quantitative research design in carrying
Saudis graduates well. The results of his study also showed that out this study. A survey questionnaire with 22 items were used
32% of the participants were employees that speak English to explore effects of English language proficiency on
while 38% of the participants were unemployed and did not employment. Furthermore, descriptive and inferential statistics
speak English. Furthermore, the findings showed that those who were employed to analyze the data.
are fluent in English have more employment opportunities than
those who do not. Participants
The participants of the study were 250 students who graduated
Moreover, Gazzola and Mazzacani (2019) researched about from English department of Kunduz, Takhar and Badakhshan
English competencies and employment. The findings indicated universities. The researchers have purposefully chosen 280
that 90% of participants emphasize on the positive effects of graduated students in Kunduz, Takhar and Badakhshan cities to
English proficiency on employment and job performance. fill out a questionnaire. Only 250 participants were ready to fill
Similarly, Abbas et al. (2021) studied about English language in the questionnaire and return to the researchers. As table 1.0
proficiency as global employment skill. The study concluded shows, 16% of participants were self-employed, 24% of were
that English is amongst the top-sought skills for jobs in the unemployed, and 60% of the participants were staff working in
future. Also their study proposes a similar argument that the different offices. Their ages ranged between 21 and 28. To make
English language is a tool in the workplace that could assure clear, the majority of them (84%) were between 21-23 years old,
success to promotion in any working environment. Hence, it 12% of them aged between 24-26 years old and only 4% of them
could also be concluded that the job market requires more were aged between 27 and above years old. They were speakers
expertise in English language. Youngblood et al. (2020) and of three local languages. More than 39.6% of participants were
Yasmin et al. (2016) also conducted a study to compare English Dari speakers. 32.4% of them were Uzbek speakers and 28% of
language learning with the needs of the job market. The focus them were Pashto speakers respectively.

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Table 1: Demographic profile of the respondents.

demographics Frequency Percentage

Gender Male 150 60%
Female 100 40%
Totally 250 100%
Position Self-Employment 40 16%

Unemployment 60 24%
Employment 150 60%
Totally 250 100%
Age 21-23 210 84%
24-26 30 12%
27-28 10 4%
Totally 250 100%
Language Dari 99 39.6%
Uzbek 81 32.4%
Pashto 70 28%
Totally 250 100%

Validity and reliability According to Bonett and Wright (2015), conducting a pilot study
The researchers sent the questionnaire to two university is to ensure and assess the clarity, confidentiality, and the
professors to have their comments and feedback for further stability of the questionnaire items designed in a research study.
improvement. After the researchers received the feedbacks and Towards the relation between English language proficiency and
comments, they reformed and incorporated them into the employment (0.883) and effects of English language proficiency
instrument to improve the validity of the instrument (Daqiq & on job performance (0.778) which was greater than 0.07.
Akramy, 2023). To prove the reliability of each item in the Therefore, the questionnaire which was employed in the current
questionnaire, the researcher conducted a pilot study among ten study was considered appropriate to collect data from the
English senior students in the class to check the reliability of the participants.
questionnaire.
Table 2: The Reliability Test of the Questionnaire items.

Category Cronbach’s Alpha Number of Items

The relation between English language 0.883 13
proficiency and employment
Effects of English language proficiency on job 0.778 9
performance
Total 22

Data collection instrument the participants. Authors have also traveled to Kunduz and
The authors carried out a thorough review to design and develop Badakhshan province to collect the data. The questionnaire was
the questionnaire. They adapted the questionnaire items from designed with a consent letter and it was anonymous because
relevant literature (Ali et al., 2020; Abbas et al., 2021). The what perspectives the participants shared were confidential and
questionnaire contained three main parts. The first part sought used for research purposes only. The consent letter was prepared
the demographic background of the respondents, (i.e., gender, to take permission whether the participants were willing to take
age, and first language). The second part composed of 13 items part in the study or not. The participants were asked to read the
that elicited participants’ responses towards the relation between instructions and complete the questionnaire (Akramy et al.,
English language proficiency and employment in Afghanistan 2022a). The researcher informed that there were no true or false
while the last part of questionnaire with 9 items sought to responses, what mattered was their response to each given
determine the effects of English proficiency on job performance. statement. He also encouraged the participants to ask about any
The participants were asked to indicate to what extent they instruction or item that seemed unclear or ambiguous to them.
agreed or disagreed on a four-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly The letter also explained the aim and purpose of the study and
Disagree, 2= Disagree, 3= Agree, and 4= Strongly Agree). The highlighted the importance of the findings in this study about
questionnaire was read by two experts in the English department effects of English language proficiency on employment,
of Takhar University and problematic items were revised based particularly in Afghanistan community. Answering each item of
on their comments and feedback (Akramy & Aiyaz, 2022). the questionnaire took only 1-2 minutes.
Data collection procedure Data analysis
The data were purposefully collected from 250 graduated The data were numerically coded and inserted into SPSS version
students from three public universities of Kunduz, Takhar, and 26.0 for analysis. The data were closely examined to make sure
Badakhshan. The six weeks (one month and half) from October the participants completed the questionnaire appropriately
1st to November 14th of 2022) were taken to collect the data from although all items in the questionnaire were created as

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mandatory. Descriptive statistics were employed to determine key for finding a suitable job. 92% of people whom took part in
the percentage, frequency, mean, and standard deviation of the this research strongly agreed and agreed that English language
data. Moreover, inferential statistical analyses were conducted proficiency is essential for their future careers. Therefore, it
to determine differences between responses of the participants. shows that all students graduated from university needs to have
Independent sample T-test was also used to explore the English skills. Over 76% of participants reported that English
differences in the responses of two groups of the respondents, language skills help to make an individual’s merit at the time of
i.e., gender. job writing/screening test. Around 92% of them declared that
English language proficiency makes them able to find a good
Result paying job. Accordingly, the need for learning English as a
The relation between English language proficiency and communication skill is of most extreme significance in the
employment present situation with a target to get a well-paid job. 68% of the
The first thirteen items of the questionnaire sought to explore participants believed that English language proficiency is the
the relation between English language proficiency and basic proviso to employment. 82% of respondents stated that
employment. As table 3.0 shows, participants gave a highly English language proficiency makes an impact on the
positive answer towards the role of English proficiency and interviewers’ committee. 84% of all participants strongly agreed
employment. 92% of them accepted that English language and agreed that English language proficiency makes them top in
proficiency helps them to get an international job which indicate the list among other candidates. Also interviewers can shortlist
that labor markets and companies in all over the world need to candidates based on English communication skills. 40% of them
employees that they have proficiency in English and can accepted that mastering on English language skills is necessary
communicate with whole people live in any country. Therefore, to understand the job-related advertisements, but this item had
Afghanistan is not exception of this. 80% of participants agreed the less agreement. Therefore, it is concluded that English
and strongly agreed that English language skills are mandatory language proficiency has positive effects on employment
for finding a suitable job; which this reveal that English is a good according the study findings.

Table 3: Relation between English language proficiency and employment.

No Statements % A& Mean Standard

SA Deviation
1 English language proficiency helps me to get an 92 4.01 0.897
international job
2 English language skills are mandatory for finding a suitable 80 3.69 0.984
Job
3 English language proficiency breaks the barriers for me to 88 3.89 0.939
find job

4 English language proficiency is essential for my future 92 4.00 0.864

career
5 English language skills help to make an individual’s merit at 76 3.21 1.063
the time of job written / screening tests
6 English language proficiency makes me able to find a good 92 4.05 0.725
paying job

7 English language proficiency is the basic proviso to 68 3.20 1.201

employment

8 Proficiency in English language makes an impact at the time 82.4 4.09 1.019
of job written tests

9 English language proficiency makes an impact on the 88 3.80 0.98

interviewers’ committee

10 English proficiency makes me top in the list among other 84 3.99 0.81
candidates

11 Interviewers can shortlist candidates based on English 84 3.80 1.01

communication skills

12 Mastering on English language skills is necessary to 40 2.90 1.204

understand the job-related advertisements

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 13 Employers would be happy to interview and recruit 60 3.09 0.895
candidates who have better English language skills
compared to others
A = Agree (3); SA = Strongly Agree (4)
The impacts of English proficiency on job performance departmental activities. 93% of them strongly agreed and agreed
The second nine items of the questionnaire explored the effects that English language skills increase their chances of career
of English proficiency on job performance. As the table 4.0 success. Over 59.2% of them declared that strong command in
shows, the majority of the participants (72.8%) strongly agreed the English language becomes the reason to get high incentives.
and agreed that the English language proficiency helps them at 80.8% of people who took part in the current research indicated
getting promotion at their jobs. 28% of them reported that the that a fluent English speaker advances his career easily in the
English language proficiency helps them present their ideas management hierarchy. 58.4% of them strongly agreed and
elaborately; this item shows that English proficiency does not agreed that proficiency in English language makes them
have considerable effect on elaborating ideas in Afghanistan. prominent among other employees and the last item revealed
50% of them believed that lack of English language proficiency that 56.8% of the participants believed that English language
has negative effects on career success in Afghanistan. 45% of proficiency makes them satisfied in workplace. Finally,
them accepted that employees with lack of English regarding to table 4.0 it is noticeable that English language
communication skills face difficulties while performing their proficiency has direct effect on job performing in Afghanistan.
Table 4: Impacts of English Proficiency on Job Performance.

No Statement % A & Mean Standard

SA Deviation
14 The English language proficiency helps me getting promoted 72.8 3.20 1.080
at my job.
15 The English language proficiency helps me present my ideas 28 2.54 0.964
elaborately

16 Lack of English language proficiency has negative effects on 50 3.02 0.821

career success in Afghanistan

17 Employees having a lack of English communication skills 45.2 3.81 1.060

face difficulties while performing their departmental
activities

18 English language skills increase my chances of career success 93.2 4.21 0.985

19 Strong command in the English language becomes the reason 59.2 3.12 0.769
to get high incentives

20 A fluent English speaker advances his career easily in the 80.8 3.52 0.795
management hierarchy

21 Proficiency in English language makes me prominent among 58.4 3.46 0.603

other employees

22 English language proficiency makes me satisfied in 56.8 3.42 1.07

workplace

A = Agree (3); SA = Strongly Agree (4)

Discussion The results also showed that the lack of English language skills
The study investigated effects of English language proficiency is a major obstacle for Afghan graduated students to get a job,
on employment. The results of the study showed that English especially well-paid jobs. Around 80% of participants believed
language proficiency is important to find a suitable and well- that lack of English language proficiency is a principal obstacle
paid job. The findings are parallel with those of the research for employment. This is in line with studies carried out by Lucas
conducted by Pandey and Pandey (2014), Abbas et al. (2021), (2004), Batra (2013), and Adelman (1990). The author believes
and Viedeyona and Sihotang (2012), who reported that job is that those staff who could speak English language well were also
easier to obtain by those graduates who have studied or learnt able to succeed at job interviews.
practical English. However, it is not in line with the result of the Moreover, the findings revealed that most of participants
study by Coleman (2010), who reported that their participants believed proficiency in English language makes an impact at the
responded that they got job, but English was not important. time of job written tests. This finding is associated with the
studies carried out by Rahman (2020) and Ismail et al. (2011).
In countries that English is the main or native language, all

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interviews will have to be done with English but in a country abroad requires expertise in English. Furthermore, it has been
like Afghanistan English is not the native language and most of found in the study that the importance of English was associated
interviews will be done with local languages and staff with increased connectivity due to globalization. It also
communicate with people in languages spoken in the concludes that the importance of English for finding jobs and
community. English is only used and spoken when the making a career was well-established. Consequently, it can be
companies or organizations attempt to introduce their products inferred that English language proficiency is amongst the top
to the world market where they communicate with foreigners in global employment skills in the viewpoint of educated
English. individuals in Afghanistan academia.

The study also yielded that English language proficiency is The Study Implications
essential for future career because the world has become a global In the light of the findings, the study proposed numerous
village. It is easy to interact with people from across different implications. In terms of good English service delivery, the
countries, and this can easily happen through English language Ministry of Education in association with Ministry of Higher
since they do not understand the language of each other. There Education should assign more experienced and expert English
are so many multinational companies that have employees from teachers at schools and universities to teach English to students
many countries and they use English to communicate with their with a high quality. That is because when the students graduate
employees. Therefore, it serves a crucial role for them in these from high school and universities, they may have to be equipped
companies. There is increased interconnectivity among the with English language skills. This can help them succeed in
people from a different regions, and the credit for this goes to getting admission to their favorite field of studies at the bachelor
English as well. The finding is consistent with the result of a and masters levels, finding jobs and expanding a network of
study conducted by Abbas et al., (2021). It reported that English friends and colleagues around the world. Furthermore, English
plays a pivotal role in assessing the suitability of graduates for should be included in entrance (country-wide) exam to be able
gaining employment. to enter universities to continue their education at the high level.
There should also be incentives allocated by the related sectors
In addition, the finding indicated that over 93% of participants among teachers of English in both schools and universities to
believed English language skills can increase their chances of better create a friendly and communicative English classrooms
career success. This has showed that how much English for their students.
language proficiency has effects on getting jobs and job
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