Foreign Language Use by Job Seekers, Employees, and Organizations in Slovakia - February 2019 - Elite Language Center
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Foreign Language Use by Job
Seekers, Employees, and
Organizations in Slovakia
February 2019
Page 1 About Elite Language Center Elite Language Center is the largest American English school in Slovakia. Our team of instructors has been teaching English and coaching professionals in Slovakia for more than a decade. Our differentiator is in constructing high-quality on-site courses tailored to each client’s specific needs. Elite was founded on the idea that our students deserve the most dedicated teachers; thus, we only employ instructors who embody the Elite ideals. Most of our teachers are from native English-speaking countries, and all have excellent professional qualifications. Survey Aims and Methodology While by no means intended as a definitive study, the aim of this survey is to gain a better understanding of the most common foreign languages used within business contexts in Slovakia, for what purpose, and to learn more about the hiring and professional development process.To do this, we created an online survey to collect job seeker/worker demographics such as citizenship and location, industry and job category, employment status, what languages they use, what they are used for, the employment process, and any challenges they faced along the way. On the organizational side, we asked about industry type and company size, where companies typically source people who speak foreign languages, the challenges they face in recruiting foreign language employees, if employees are provided language training opportunities to enhance their skills, and the business impact of such training. Two versions of the survey were released: - Foreign Language Use By Workers and Job Seekers in Slovakia (in English and Slovak) - Foreign Language Use in Slovak Companies (in English and Slovak) Two-thirds of the participants responded to the survey in English, with the remaining third in Slovak (the latter were either native Slovak speakers, or those sufficiently confident in the language to respond in Slovak over English). The survey was promoted on social media, directly to clients and students, and by word-of-mouth from December 2018 - January 2019. Approximately 100 responses were received overall. Although we had hoped to collect a higher number of responses during this period, it was felt that those received were broad enough to sufficiently reflect the trends within each target audience group. The following analysis offers a summary and interpretation of our findings. We have presented graphs and tables from the English and Slovak surveys where results varied, and have calculated averages of the two where appropriate in our analysis.
Page 2
Part 1: Foreign Language Use By Workers and Job
Seekers in Slovakia
Demographics
There are approximately 120,000 foreigners living in Slovakia based on figures released in 2018
(1), of which roughly 45,900 are foreign workers.
94% of survey respondents currently live in Slovakia, with the other 6% indicating that they are
actively seeking work opportunities here. The majority of those based in Slovakia live in
Bratislava (78%), with 9% in Košice, 9% in Trenčín,Trnava and Poprad, and the remaining 4%
abroad.
We did not ask respondents to specify nationality. However, we established that 85% are EU
citizens and 15% non-EU citizens.
Respondents generally work within the IT, education, and financial services industries, and held
directly applicable rather than support roles (e.g. IT Consultant).
Job Category
Industry
*We have presented graphs and tables from the English and Slovak surveys, where results varied. Where there is a significant difference, we have calculated an average of both surveys in our text analysis
Page 3
Employment Status and Residency Duration
The majority of survey respondents are full-time permanent employees, and approximately 20%
hold self-employed (Živnosť) status.
A sizable number of respondents indicated that they are unsure how long they will remain in
Slovakia. However, a good proportion predicted at least medium- to long-term commitment,
with an average of a third intending to staying 3 or more years.
What is your employment status in Slovakia?
*Other responses not included, as text commentaries repeat/add to selected answers
How long do you intend to stay in Slovakia?
*We have presented graphs and tables from the English and Slovak surveys, where results varied. Where there is a significant difference, we have calculated an average of both surveys in our text analysis
Page 4
Finding Work in Slovakia
According to Juraj Valachy, an Economic Analyst at Tatra Banka, about every fourth new job
position is currently filled by a foreigner (2). As reported by the SITA Slovak News Agency,
approximately 45,900 foreigners were working in Slovakia in September 2018 (3). Therefore,
nearly 12,000 foreigners fill these roles, with the remaining three quarters either self-employed,
looking for work, are dependents, or unemployed.
For those who seek employee or self-employed status, anecdotal and media-reported evidence
indicates that the Cudzinecká polícia ('foreign' or 'alien' police) has in recent years presented a
discouraging obstacle for job seekers and workers in Slovakia. While the average number of
rejected applications is unknown, media reports suggest that the process for submitting an
application is cumbersome, expensive, and time-consuming (4), particularly in Bratislava where
the highest number of foreigners apply. The police themselves recognize the challenges that
accompany Slovakia's growing popularity with foreigners, and recently introduced new
measures to better cope with this increase (5).
While considerable improvements have been noted following the move to a new location in
March 2018, reports still indicate ongoing administrative problems with the process (6) due to
the increasing number of foreign citizens relocating to Slovakia.
The current list of requirements to apply for temporary residency are outlined in detail on the
website of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic (7), and more
concisely by the IOM Migration Information Centre (8).
What challenges, if any, did/do you face when looking for work in Slovakia?
Under 'Other - Please Specify', respondents added: feeling of alienation, uncertainty about job
sources, non-international team environment at work, lack of attractive positions, low salary, and
confusion about where to find English-speaking jobs.
*We have presented graphs and tables from the English and Slovak surveys, where results varied. Where there is a significant difference, we have calculated an average of both surveys in our text analysis
Page 5
What did you experience during the Foreign Police application process?
Under 'Other - Please Specify', respondents added: humiliation, not applicable due to diplomatic
status, application did not get administered (forgotten), they were nice and helpful, they arrested
me.
*We have presented graphs and tables from the English and Slovak surveys, where results varied. Where there is a significant difference, we have calculated an average of both surveys in our text analysisPage 6
Foreign Language Use and Purpose
Unsurprisingly due to its status as an international lingua franca, English is the primary language
used for work purposes in Slovakia. This is followed by German, given Slovakia's proximity to
German-speaking markets. Language purpose varied considerably. In particular, training &
development tends to be offered through English, likely because many international companies
use English for internal communications.
Which foreign languages do you speak for work purposes in Slovakia?
Under 'Other - Please Specify', respondents added: Bulgarian, Arabic, Portuguese, Turkish, Danish,
Romanian, and Croatian. 25% also included Slovak, however for the purposes of this specific survey
we do not consider this to be a foreign language.
*We have presented graphs and tables from the English and Slovak surveys, where results varied. Where there is a significant difference, we have calculated an average of both surveys in our text analysisPage 7
For what purposes do you use foreign languages at work?
*Other responses not included, as text commentary repeat/add to selected answers
As a large proportion of respondents use English and German, job interviews were generally
conducted in these languages during the hiring process. Respondents were asked to rate the
foreign language skills of the interviewer, with virtually all indicating satisfaction (only 2% felt that
the interviewer's language skills were insufficient).
If you were interviewed by your current organization in your foreign work
language, how would you rate the foreign language skills of the interviewer?
*We have presented graphs and tables from the English and Slovak surveys, where results varied. Where there is a significant difference, we have calculated an average of both surveys in our text analysisPage 8
In-Company Language Training & Development Opportunities
"Language courses in my opinion are only worth it if the courses are taught by native speakers, or
people who can sound like they are native. Many courses are unfortunately taught by people who
did not succeed in the corporate world, and not because they enjoy teaching." (anonymous
comment submitted with a survey response)
Although language skills of teachers were not specifically surveyed, the above comment is
generally reflective of feedback often received by Elite Language Center. We were therefore
curious to learn if this would be echoed in respondents' satisfaction rates regarding the impact
that company-provided language training has on their ability to do their job more effectively.
While 36% of respondents state that they are satisfied or very satisfied, more than half the
respondents do not have access to such opportunities. Therefore, we do not have enough
information to address this conclusively.
Does your organization offer you language training opportunities?
If your organization provides language training, which languages do you take
classes in?
Under 'Other - Please Specify', one respondent added Portuguese; the remaining 'other' responses
repeat/add to their selected response in the above chart.
*We have presented graphs and tables from the English and Slovak surveys, where results varied. Where there is a significant difference, we have calculated an average of both surveys in our text analysisPage 9
If your organization provides language training, what is the total time offered to
you each week?
*Other responses not included, as text commentaries repeat/add to selected answers
If your organization provides foreign language training, how satisfied are you
that it has a positive impact on your ability to do your job?
*We have presented graphs and tables from the English and Slovak surveys, where results varied. Where there is a significant difference, we have calculated an average of both surveys in our text analysisPage 10
Part II: Foreign Language Use in Slovak Companies
from the Organization's Perspective
Based on key economic indicators collated by Symsite Research (www.symsite.sk), the
unemployment rate in Slovakia fell to an all-time low of 5% in December 2018. (9)
According to Národná banka Slovenska's Medium-Term Forecast Q4 2018, "Recent data indicate
that employment growth is beginning to slow....Net job creation will remain positive, but more
moderate compared with the recent period; at the same time, it will be increasingly difficult to fill the
jobs created, partly because the unemployment rate is expected to fall to historical lows. The job
vacancies are expected to be filled to some extent by Slovaks returning from work abroad, by
foreign workers, and via increasing labour force participation." (10)
While this is only a limited study, our survey results do tend to support the likelihood of an
increase in the number of foreign workers (specifically foreign-language workers) in 2019.
Demographics
85% of company respondents completed the English version of the survey. Over half the
respondents were business owners based in Bratislava, while 24% were senior managers. 75%
of respondent companies had 20 or fewer employees, while 6% of respondents represented
organizations of up to 2,000 employees. Industry type varied considerably,
What industry do you work in?
How many employees work for your company in Slovakia?
*We have presented graphs and tables from the English and Slovak surveys, where results varied. Where there is a significant difference, we have calculated an average of both surveys in our text analysisPage 11
Foreign Language Use and Purpose
Similarly to the job seeker/worker version of the survey, English is the primary business language
for respondents who completed the questionnaire in English. In the Slovak version, the primary
language was German, followed by English. The findings are therefore relatively consistent with
the job seeker/worker version of the survey.
While purpose also varied considerably, training & development was not seen as the leading
purpose for foreign language use compared to the job/seeker worker version. Rather, outward-
facing reasons such as client and customer communications, external meetings, and marketing
were considered the strongest reasons.
As highlighted above, survey responses support the likelihood of an increased need for foreign
workers in 2019.
Which foreign languages are used by your organization in Slovakia?
Under 'Other - Please Specify', several respondents added Dutch
Why are these languages used by your company in Slovakia?
*We have presented graphs and tables from the English and Slovak surveys, where results varied. Where there is a significant difference, we have calculated an average of both surveys in our text analysisPage 12
Do you predict an increase, decrease, or the same level of need for foreign
language-speaking employees in your company in 2019?
Hiring Foreign Language Employees
By far the biggest problem faced by companies trying to recruit foreign-language employees is
that there are not enough candidates available, primarily because of the difficulty in attracting
qualified candidates to Slovakia.
Companies report that they deploy a variety of digital and social media strategies over paper-
based avenues to source foreign-language applicants. Recruitment agencies and employee
referrals are also considered useful sources.
Where does your company find foreign language-speaking employees?
*We have presented graphs and tables from the English and Slovak surveys, where results varied. Where there is a significant difference, we have calculated an average of both surveys in our text analysisPage 13
How easy is it for your company to find foreign language-speaking employees?
What challenges, if any, do your company face when recruiting and retaining
foreign language-speaking employees?
*We have presented graphs and tables from the English and Slovak surveys, where results varied. Where there is a significant difference, we have calculated an average of both surveys in our text analysisPage 14
In-Company Language Training & Development Opportunities
65% of companies who took part in this survey said that they provide language training &
development opportunities (e.g. classes) during business hours, with a further 10% outside
business hours. 19% of English respondents and 33% of Slovak respondents reported that they
would like to offer such opportunities. Only 5% currently do not provide access to classes.
Interestingly, despite company size, 1-5 is the typical average number of employees from
respondent companies who receive language training (>60%). Unsurprisingly, English and
German represent the top languages offered by employers.
Does your company provide foreign language learning opportunities to employees?
If your company provides language training, which languages do you currently
offer?
Under 'Other - Please Specify', one respondent added Dutch.
*We have presented graphs and tables from the English and Slovak surveys, where results varied. Where there is a significant difference, we have calculated an average of both surveys in our text analysisPage 15
If your company provides language training, how many employees in total
attend classes?
While 60-minute classes per employee per week is the most common average total, 5% receive
90 minutes and a further 25% receive 2 hours.
While Slovak language respondents were equally divided between very satisfied or satisfied in
the return on their investment (ROI), respondents to the English version (who formed the largest
total number of responses) were satisfied (40%), somewhat dissatisfied (27%), or not satisfied
(10%).
As the current survey did not delve into the reasons behind ROI satisfaction rates, this could
perhaps be addressed in a future survey.
If your company provides language training, what is the average total offered to
each employee per week?
If your company provides foreign language training, how satisfied are you that
it generates reasonable ROI for your business?
*We have presented graphs and tables from the English and Slovak surveys, where results varied. Where there is a significant difference, we have calculated an average of both surveys in our text analysisPage 16 Conclusion In conclusion, it seems very likely that the need for foreign workers will only increase in the near future, particularly in terms of those whose language skills are valuable commodities for international businesses with offices in Slovakia (11). This perhaps goes hand-in-hand with the increasing number of foreigners moving to Slovakia. There are clearly challenges for companies to overcome in terms of sourcing suitably-qualified foreign language workers, as well as for the government in addressing hurdles that yet remain in the foreign police application process once workers arrive in Slovakia. While a good proportion of companies surveyed offer language training & development opportunities for their employees, and a sizable percentage wish to introduce such opportunities, more than a third of companies with existing programs in place would like to see a greater business impact for their investment. Similarly, employees would like to see a more obvious link between language training and the ability to do their job more effectively. A logical solution would be for language training providers, individual students, and Human Resources/Training & Development to agree a training plan for each participant (if not already in place), one which is aligned with the individual's language learning needs, the language requirements of their job, and the company's objectives. We we would very much like to thank all individuals and companies for taking the time to participate in this survey.
Page 17 References 1. Most foreigners in Slovakia now come from outside the EU, Kafkadesk https://kafkadesk.org/2019/02/17/most-foreigners-in-slovakia-now-come-from-outside-the-eu/ 2. Shortfall of qualified workers depresses the Slovak labour market, Amrop www.amrop.sk/pdf/others/2018/cg_2018.pdf 3. Number of foreigners working in Slovakia is on the rise, Slovak Spectator https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20692173/number-of-foreigners-working-in-slovakia-is-on-the- rise.html 4. Blog: Why did I come here? Slovak Spectator https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20656789/blog-why-did-i-come-here.html 5. Info for Foreign Nationals, Polícia Slovenskej republiky Facebook page www.facebook.com/policiaslovakia/videos/2189954771266834/ 6. Brace yourselves for longer queues at the Foreigners’ Police, Slovak Spectator https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20935157/brace-yourselves-for-longer-queues-at-the-foreigners- police.html 7. Residence of Foreigners in Territory of Slovakia, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic website www.mzv.sk/web/en/consular_info/residence_of_foreigners_in_territory_of_slovakia 8. Application for Temporary Residence (Information Page), IOM Migration Information Centre www.mic.iom.sk/en/residence/temporary-residence/233-application-for-temporary- residence.html 9. www.symsite.sk Symsite Research, current data available by subscription only 10. Národná banka Slovenska Medium-Term Forecast Q4 2018 https://nbs.sk/_img/Documents/_Publikacie/PREDIK/2018/MTF-2018Q4.pdf 11. Why invest in Slovakia, SARIO Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency https://www.sario.sk/en/invest-slovakia/why-invest-slovakia Contact Enquiries about this survey may be directed to: Christy Morgan Chief of Operations Elite Language Center christymorgan@elitelanguage.eu
You can also read
