What’s Next: Skills for the Future of the Language Services Industry
The Report Is Ready!
In June 2025, the Association of Translation Companies (ATC), in collaboration with the Canadian Language Industry Association (CLIA), the European Union of Translation Companies (EUATC), and the European Language Industry Association (ELIA), sparked a global conversation about the skills needed for the future of the language industry.
When asked if the language specialists of today have the skills needed for the future, 47% of participants said ‘No’. We have a long way to go in working out the skills we will need to thrive.
Among many compelling insights, participants responded to the question “What should our collective next steps be in identifying future skills?” with a strong emphasis on Continual Professional Development. Meanwhile, when asked “Who should be training the next generation of professionals?”, the responses pointed to a shared responsibility: 34% to universities and 66% spread across language industry associations, training providers, and language service companies.
In response to these findings, CLIA has joined forces with international language industry associations and the Magic Beans Agency to engage language services companies in an AI Upskilling course designed for language service providers.
