RareJob, Inc. (hereafter, “RareJob”), which helps people visualize and improve their skills as an “AI assessment company” conducted a survey targeting English learners in their 20s to 60s regarding their English speaking skills and annual income. The result showed that there is a correlation between English speaking proficiency and annual income.

Summary for Survey Results

People with CEFR B1 (intermediate) or higher for their English speaking skills get annual incomes around ¥1 million higher than those with CEFR A2 (beginner-intermediate) or lower among people with 30s or older.

One out of four people with CEFR B2 (upper-intermediate) for their English speaking skills get an annual income of more than 10 million yen.

Survey Background

In recent years, there has been a growing need for English listening and speaking skills, which are not limited to reading and writing to communicate orally in business.

However, it’s difficult to establish quantitative measurement of English speaking ability, because an assessment of an English speaking skill tend to depend on subjective judgement and it is not easy to clearly identify correct and incorrect answers like written exams.

In addition, scores of TOEIC® L&R test, which has traditionally been a common in Japan to measure English language proficiency doesn’t necessarily correlate with an English speaking proficiency. It is important to assess English speaking ability of people in order to grasp how much they can manage their jobs in an English speaking environment. Based on this context, RareJob has collected reliable data about an English speaking skill of working people by using the PROGOS® AI business speaking test and so on.

In this survey, we examined correlation of the level of English speaking skills of people and their annual income.

Survey Summary

Respondents: Paid members of “RareJob Eikaiwa” who took “RareJob Speaking Test powered by PROGOS®” during the survey period.
Age: 20s to 60s
Occupation: Office workers (permanent/contract), management workers, civil servants, freelance workers
Number of valid responses: 320
Survey dates: June 6 and July 4, 2022
Survey method: Internet survey
When quoting this survey, please call this “RareJob survey”.

Results

A correlation was found between the level of English speaking skills based on the CEFR, an international index that can measure the four English language skills, and annual income.

① People with CEFR B1 (intermediate) or higher for their English speaking skills get annual incomes around ¥1 million higher than those with CEFR A2 (beginner-intermediate) or lower among people with 30s or older.

The above graph shows the result of the survey classified by generations, dividing the level of English speaking skills into “CEFR A2 or lower” and “CEFR B1”. The difference reached approximately 1.11million yen for those in their 50s and older.

② One out of four people with CEFR B2 (upper-intermediate) for their English speaking skills get an annual income of more than 10 million yen.

When focusing on the annual income of respondents who scored higher level of CEFR B2, one out of four earns more than 10 million yen per year.

CEFR B2 is said to be the level of an English speaking skill required by international companies overseas, and is also required by Japanese companies for managers in global departments.
*1
The CEFR is an indicator to assess language proficiency widely used around the world, which enables objective and quantitative measurement of English speaking skill as it is easily influenced by a subjective judgement. While CEFR B1 is generally required as the level required for business purpose, it is said that approximately 70% of Japanese are only at the A1 to A2 level.

Summary

RareJob Eikaiwa, an online English tutorial service, is used by people of all ages. Many of our users aim to improve their practical English speaking skill for work. The new plan, which will be available in October, is designed to help users improve their English speaking skills up to CEFR B1.

To keep learning English is extremely important to improve their English speaking skills. In addition to learning support functions, setting goals and maintaining motivation will help users keep learning and we believe that the result of this survey will contribute to enhancing their motivation as one of facts.

RareJob will continue to support students in improving their English speaking skills through “RareJob Eikaiwa” with functions and support to keep users’ learning motivation and “RareJob Speaking Test powered by PROGOS®” which can measure users’ English speaking skills and help them design a study plan.

About PROGOS®

PROGOS® is the business English speaking test that uses AI to measure a “practical” English speaking skill based on the international index, CEFR. It gives score results in a minimum 2-3 minutes. Fees of most English speaking tests has been over 5000 yen on average, due to costs for human resources to score tests and venues to conduct tests. The penetration of English speaking tests has been limited in Japan due to these factors above so far. PROGOS® developed its AI-based system to automatically assess free answers in English to resolve the issue. This provides a new opportunity to take tests quickly and inexpensively regardless of the capacities of examiners. Because these advantages were highly regarded, PROGOS® won the first silver prize in Japan in one of the world’s largest educational contests in December 2020. (*2)
In addition, “PROGOS®” can be customized for other services. “RareJob Speaking Test powered by PROGOS®” is provided for “RareJob Eikaiwa” after PROGOS® is customized.
*2: Received the Silver Prize in Reimagine Education Award 2020, Learning Assessment category. The Japanese organization won this award for the first time.