Jakarta. As artificial intelligence reshapes global labor markets, English proficiency remains a crucial driver of employability, mobility, and competitiveness, according to Educational Testing Service (ETS) Southeast Asia Executive Director Pushkar Saran.

He said the world’s transition toward a skills-first economy is placing far greater weight on measurable abilities, particularly communication, digital literacy, and AI fluency, rather than traditional credentials.

"English acts as a 'professional currency' that allows workers to apply their skills across borders and participate in globally connected workplaces. Assessments such as TOEIC and TOEIC Link are designed to measure practical communication in real business settings, not academic knowledge," Saran told the Jakarta Globe.

According to Saran, English remains central to industries ranging from technology to research and international trade.

"Even as AI mediates more interactions, human communication still determines coordination, decision-making, and collaboration across cultures. The rise of AI has not reduced the need for English," he said. "Instead, English proficiency enables workers to use AI tools more effectively, understand system functions, and engage with predominantly English-language datasets."

AI as an Accelerator for English Learning
Saran dismissed the idea that AI translation tools diminish the value of learning English. AI can enhance comprehension, he said, but cannot replace the independence, confidence, or credibility that come from expressing ideas directly.

“Translation might help someone understand a conversation, but it cannot give them the ability to lead it,” he said, adding that AI should be viewed as an accelerator that personalizes learning, offers instant feedback, and simulates real workplace scenarios. 

He urged educators and employers, especially in fast-growing markets like Indonesia, to adopt practical, workplace-focused English learning instead of textbook memorization. Integrating AI tools into classrooms, aligning assessments with industry needs, and using test results as feedback rather than barriers would help learners keep pace with today’s rapidly evolving workforce. Saran also emphasized the importance of accessible, high-quality teacher training to ensure English instruction keeps up with technological demands.

Closing Proficiency Gaps and Strengthening Competitiveness

Indonesia ranks 80th globally in the 2024 EF English Proficiency Index, categorized as Low Proficiency. Saran attributed the country’s challenges to uneven access to quality instruction, limited exposure to real workplace communication, and a tendency to treat English as an academic subject rather than a career skill.

To address this, he called for embedding English into vocational and workforce programs, moving toward communication-based curricula, and adopting standardized skill benchmarks like TOEIC to ensure employers and educators share common expectations.

Improving English proficiency, he said, is critical for Indonesia’s ambitions in global trade, outsourcing, AI adoption, and digital services. Stronger communication skills would allow Indonesian workers to tap into higher-value opportunities and participate more fully in international markets.

Saran added that rising demand for TOEIC Link in Indonesia and other developing economies reflects a pragmatic shift among workers seeking credentials that directly impact wages, mobility, and access to global employers.

Saran also stressed that English should not be seen as an “elitist” marker. It becomes exclusionary only when access to quality instruction is uneven. When learning materials include local contexts, when assessments recognize diverse learning pathways, and when employers take an active role in upskilling, English becomes a tool for empowerment, inclusion, and digital equity.

Looking ahead, he said English proficiency will extend beyond fluency to encompass AI-assisted communication, cross-cultural literacy, digital collaboration etiquette, and the ability to communicate insights in data-driven environments, skills that will define future-ready workers in the next decade.

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