Weak English Skills Limit Access to Better Jobs in Mexico: Kumon

Mexico's English proficiency fell to 440 points in the 2025 EF English Proficiency Index, ranking 103rd of 123 economies, while Kumon estimates fewer than 5% of graduates can communicate effectively in professional settings. This constrains access to management, technology, and internationally facing roles precisely as nearshoring increases demand for bilingual talent in manufacturing, IT, and business-services hubs.  

Weak English skills are limiting access to higher-paying jobs in Mexico, according to new data from the EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI) and education group Kumon. The country ranks 103rd out of 123 nations and regions evaluated, and fewer than 5% of graduates can communicate effectively in the language, a gap that increasingly separates candidates from management, technology, and internationally facing roles.

Mexico scored 440 points in the 2025 edition of the EF EPI, based on the performance of 2.2 million adults worldwide, placing the country in the "very low" proficiency category against a global average of 488. The score fell 19 points from the previous edition, one of the sharpest declines among the countries and regions included in the ranking.

"In recent years, more and more students are arriving with more pronounced deficiencies or a very low level of English," says Guillermo Parás, Representative, Kumon, an institute specialized in mathematics, reading, and English instruction. Parás says the distance between candidates' competencies and labor market needs may be widening because language study rarely translates into the ability to perform in an interview, a meeting, or a negotiation.

Kumon estimates that only 3% to 4% of recent university graduates in Mexico hold sufficient English proficiency to communicate in professional settings, while approximately 20% reach an intermediate level. Nearly half of job seekers report having lost an opportunity due to insufficient English, a skill the institute estimates can expand a candidate's chances of finding better positions by 30% to 50%.

The shortfall extends beyond a pending item on school curricula. Mexico's EF EPI results showed particularly weak scores in written expression, at 399 points, and oral expression, at 413 points, reflecting a divide between studying a language and applying it in real workplace situations. Mexico ranks below most of Latin America in the index, trailing regional peers such as Argentina, Uruguay, and Costa Rica, though it still scores above Haiti in the same edition. States with a heavy manufacturing presence, including Coahuila, Tamaulipas, Baja California, and Chihuahua, all rank in the "very low" proficiency band despite attracting billions of dollars in foreign investment, noting that the decline arrives at a moment the economy can least afford it as nearshoring reshapes North American supply chains.

English proficiency carries particular weight in information technology, software development, foreign trade, tourism, and business services tied to nearshoring, according to Kumon. The institute estimates that speaking a second language can represent earnings up to 50% higher compared with professionals who communicate only in Spanish.

Kumon calculates that between 6 million and 8 million Mexicans currently master a second language, though it warns of a setback among younger generations. That trend echoes a broader pattern, which reported that 67% of employers in Mexico cannot find the talent profiles they need and that the region's most urgent talent gap is increasingly human rather than technical, with organizations that formally measure language proficiency better positioned to reduce turnover and strengthen client relationships.

The skills challenge also intersects with a broader shift in workplace requirements. The Future of Jobs Report 2025 indicates that 40% of core skills required in Mexican jobs will change over the next five years, slightly above the global average of 39%. English proficiency does not substitute for technical knowledge or professional experience but functions as a transversal tool for accessing training, specialized documentation, and international opportunities.

Artificial intelligence tools are also entering the conversation. Real-time translation and AI-assisted instruction are becoming more accessible, but industry analysts note that these tools do not replace the human communication skills built through structured language learning, particularly for tasks such as negotiating, presenting to clients, or delivering feedback across cultures 

Reinforcing language instruction from basic education onward and complementing it with extracurricular programs for both students and working adults is key. For Kumon, the objective extends beyond obtaining a certification, toward building the capacity to participate in interviews, present projects, understand technical documents, and communicate with clients or colleagues from other countries. Absent a coordinated response from schools, companies, and policymakers, the gap between English instruction and workplace-ready communication is likely to keep shaping who advances into Mexico's best-paid roles.