More than a third of job adverts seek English proficiency, with German, Hungarian and others trailing far behind. (source: TASR)
English still rules the workplace in Slovakia, with employers showing no sign of letting go. According to Profesia.sk, the country’s largest job website, it remains the most sought-after foreign language on the job market.
“This year, employers have mentioned English in 36 percent of job advertisements. It’s followed by German at 8 percent, Hungarian at 2 percent, Czech at 1 percent, and French at less than 1 percent. The top five most sought-after languages have remained fairly stable, with only Czech and French switching places in recent years,” said Ľubica Melcerová, Public Relations Manager at Profesia, in a statement to The Slovak Spectator.
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In terms of proficiency level, last year’s data show that the most frequently required level for English was B2 (upper intermediate). Nearly half of all job listings that required English cited this level. Around a quarter required B1 (intermediate).
At B1, a learner can understand the main points of common work-related matters, handle travel situations, and produce simple written texts. B2 means understanding complex texts, including technical discussions in one’s field, interacting fluently with native speakers, and writing detailed documents across a broad range of subjects.
When it came to German, 29 percent of relevant job listings required B2 proficiency, while 23 percent asked for B1. However, more than a quarter of adverts mentioning German did not specify any proficiency level at all, Melcerová added.
According to Profesia.sk, English is the most sought-after language across all sectors, with German in second place. The main exception is banking, where Czech is the second-most requested language. Hungarian ranks third in most cases.
There’s also a quiet battle for fifth place. In tourism and gastronomy, Polish has edged out French. In transport and logistics, it’s Italian. And in manufacturing, Russian has taken the fifth spot.
