Preply Presents a Language and Career Mobility Report for 2026

The team at Preply has completed its 2026 report on Language and Global Career Mobility. This study was performed across three English-speaking countries and examined why people are moving abroad and what languages they’re learning to prepare for the transition. It’s no secret that learning a second and even a third language can boost career prospects, but this study shows that this is key to helping people achieve their dreams of moving abroad. The survey included 1,800 respondents from the U.S., the UK, and Canada.

Many people aim to move abroad as job opportunities shrink at home. 40% of the survey respondents said their home country’s economy was in decline, and around the same number had either experienced job loss or were close to someone who had lost their job in the past two years. Those dreaming of an adventure outside their country are seeking a fresh start that can help them gain a more secure footing in a career, along with the ability to find new opportunities, grow, and thrive. 92% of people moving abroad said knowing the local language is critical to success.

The survey results are rich with detail. We learned that 63% of Gen Z have experienced job loss in the last 24 months. 81% of people open to relocating to a new country are more likely to do so now than they were two years ago. The biggest motivations for moving are the cost of living and the hope for a better quality of life. 75% say that learning the local language boosted their confidence and certainty about moving. 93% of respondents said they’d take advantage of language learning if their employers offered it. Clearly, there’s a strong willingness to learn new languages!

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Since the year 2000, international travel has doubled. As traveling abroad becomes more common, life abroad begins to feel more accessible and possible. An enormous 82% of the survey respondents said they were open to moving abroad. Interest is highest in the UK at 87%, followed by the U.S. at 84%, with Canada trailing at 68%. As always, people are interested in moving abroad because they imagine they’ll have a better life there, but the team dug up a few more specific reasons as well. Some people are drawn to the culture, lifestyle, or language of the country they want to move to, while others are drawn to it for its healthcare, market access, and political and economic stability.

Today, many people in major cities around the world are fluent in English, and there are countless apps to aid translation. The benefits of learning a language are clear from this study. The confidence and personal transformations it inspires are priceless. Three in four learners say that learning a new language had a strong impact on their personal growth and even changed their lives. This study strongly underscores the personal empowerment that language learning provides.