Q COSTARICA — Costa Rica’s business sector is running into a wall — a shortage of bilingual talent that’s starting to bite into growth. As companies aim to compete globally, the ability to communicate in more than one language, especially English, has become a must-have skill.
Without enough bilingual workers proficient in languages such as English, Portuguese, or French, companies struggle to connect with international clients, serve global suppliers, and participate in bidding processes or value chains outside the country.
According to CINDE, the Coalición de Iniciativas para el Desarrollo (Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency) data, 73 new investment projects were registered in 2024 alone, increasing the demand for bilingual talent and putting pressure on local companies to adapt.
Failed negotiations, lost bids, and missed opportunities due to not speaking the client’s language. This is the reality for many local companies that, without bilingual staff, see their ability to compete across borders reduced.
“Language is part of the invisible infrastructure of a modern company: without it, processes become more expensive, business opportunities are lost, and the growth of internal talent is limited. The situation in the country is alarming: only 5.4% of Costa Ricans are bilingual. How many more opportunities will we miss out on due to a lack of speaking a second language?” says Adriana Castro, founder of Craving English and author of the book El Viaje al Éxito (The Journey to Success).
In addition to limiting business expansion, the lack of language skills among staff impacts operational efficiency. Teams that don’t master the language depend on intermediaries, require constant translations, and often face more technical barriers when handling documentation, software, or systems developed in other countries.
In sectors such as corporate services, advanced manufacturing, and technology, English is considered the starting point. But even outside these sectors, competition for international clients and global suppliers forces many small and medium-sized businesses to adapt or be left behind.
“A team that can participate in meetings with foreign clients, understand technical documentation, and manage processes in another language is more likely to respond quickly, without the need for intermediaries or external translations. This increases operational autonomy and speeds up decision-making,” Castro added.
What can Costa Rican companies do?
These are some concrete actions that Costa Rican companies can implement to strengthen internal bilingualism without incurring significant costs:
- Internal diagnosis: Identify key positions where proficiency in English or another language is critical. Evaluate current staff levels and set realistic improvement goals.
- Gradual and contextualized training: Investing in language classes is most effective when tailored to actual job functions: technical vocabulary, presentations, emails, customer service, etc.
- Partnerships with training centers: There are customized programs for small and medium-sized businesses, including options subsidized by institutions such as the INA (National Institute of Statistics).
- Learning incentives: Establishing rewards for language achievements, certifications, raises, and promotions creates a culture of continuous improvement.
- Promoting practical use: Integrating the language into everyday tasks: short meetings in English, internal presentations, bilingual training, etc.
- Strategic hiring: Consider language-proficient profiles not only for sales or customer service, but also in technical and administrative areas.
According to an article by Fluency Corp. titled “The Impact of Language Skills: Employee Retention & Job Satisfaction,” language learning programs help employees feel better prepared to collaborate with their teams, which can improve the work environment and reduce employee turnover. Language training not only strengthens communication skills but also impacts overall satisfaction and commitment to the organization.
Faced with the growth of foreign capital, bilingualism becomes not only an asset but a necessity, a line of defense for Costa Rican companies that want to remain relevant.
In today’s interconnected world, the ability to navigate multiple languages opens doors to broader markets.
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