Introduction to the Importance of English Proficiency in Mexico
The Instituto Mexicano de Competitividad (IMCO) highlights that proficiency in the English language is a crucial skill for attracting investment and enhancing economic and professional competitiveness. However, Mexico remains lagging behind the global average and shows significant disparities among federal entities.
Nuevo León Tops English Proficiency in Mexico
Monterrey, NL. One of the main objectives of Plan México is to strengthen English language skills, a key factor for attracting investment and expanding businesses across the country. In this context, Nuevo León stands out as the entity with the highest score in the country (530), followed by Jalisco (529), while Coahuila presents the lowest level (370) according to the English Proficiency Index 2024 (EF EPI) by EF Education First.
Mexico’s Global Standing in English Proficiency
According to IMCO’s analysis based on the EF EPI index, Mexico remains one of the countries with the lowest English proficiency in Latin America, only surpassing Haiti. Although the country has advanced eight points compared to the previous year, it still lags 18 points below the global average (477).
Regional Disparities in English Proficiency
Despite the importance of English for competitiveness, economic development, and professional opportunities, English proficiency in Mexico remains limited with significant regional disparities. To illustrate the gap, Nuevo León’s highest score is 106 points lower than the world’s top score in the Netherlands.
Performance by Federal Entity
States above the national average include Nuevo León, Jalisco, Colima, Sinaloa, Morelos, Michoacán, Querétaro, Baja California Sur, Aguascalientes, Sonora, San Luis Potosí, and Guanajuato. Nayarit and the City of Mexico are at the national average, while the rest fall below it, according to an IMCO graph.
“Generally, federal entities maintain very low, low, or moderate levels in the index evaluating language performance, indicating an opportunity to promote linguistic learning from early education,” IMCO states.
Leveraging English Proficiency for Economic Growth
According to the State Competitiveness Index (ICE), for states to capitalize on Plan México’s benefits, it is essential to promote the skills demanded by today’s labor market.
In this context, along with other skills, proficiency in English is indispensable for driving labor insertion in strategic sectors, facilitating access to global technologies, and strengthening links with international markets. Workers with strong English skills have better access to well-paying jobs, higher-ranking positions, and broader educational opportunities.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the significance of English proficiency in Mexico? Proficiency in English is crucial for attracting investment, enhancing economic and professional competitiveness, and opening doors to better job opportunities, higher-ranking positions, and broader educational prospects.
- Which states lead in English proficiency in Mexico? Nuevo León leads with a score of 530, followed by Jalisco (529) and Coahuila with the lowest score of 370.
- How does Mexico’s English proficiency compare globally? Mexico ranks among the lowest in Latin America, just above Haiti, and is 18 points below the global average of 477.
- What are the regional disparities in English proficiency? There is a significant gap between states, with Nuevo León’s highest score being 106 points lower than the world’s top score in the Netherlands.
- Why is English proficiency important for economic growth? Strong English skills enable better access to well-paying jobs, higher-ranking positions, and broader educational opportunities, which are essential for capitalizing on Plan México’s benefits.
