Japan Ranks 96th Globally in English Proficiency, Highlighting a Shortage of Global Talent as a Challenge

Coca-Cola Executives and Former Netflix HR Professionals to Speak at "EF Global Career Talk 2026" Panel Event

EF Education First Japan Ltd. (Headquarters: Switzerland, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo / Representative: Nana Ito-Groening, hereinafter referred to as EF Education First), an international education organization operating in over 110 countries worldwide, will hold a global career event for university students and young professionals titled "EF Global Career Talk 2026" on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the EF Japan office in Shibuya.

In recent years, while Japanese companies have been expanding overseas and foreign companies have been entering the Japanese market, there has been a growing challenge of a shortage of global talent capable of thriving in international environments. Furthermore, interest in overseas study and international careers is increasing among university students and the younger generation, leading to a growing need for practical information and networking opportunities regarding "skills that are valued globally" and "career development in global companies.".

Against this backdrop, the event will feature speakers with practical experience in global companies and expertise in human resource support, including a current executive from Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan, an HR professional who was involved in talent strategy at the former Netflix, and a senior consultant from Robert Walters Japan. A panel discussion will be held on the themes of "skills that are valued globally" and "career design for success in global companies.". Additionally, on the day of the event, there will be networking opportunities for participants to connect with each other and with the speakers. An experiential booth for the online English test "EF SET (EF Standard English Test)" will also be set up, allowing participants to measure their English proficiency. The event aims to provide a practical learning and networking platform for students and young professionals aspiring to global careers. ■Background of the Event Japan Ranks 96th in English Proficiency; What are the "Global Talents" Companies Seek? Amidst rising interest in "global careers" among young people, Japanese companies' overseas expansion and foreign companies' entry into the Japanese market are increasing, leading to a year-on-year rise in demand for talent capable of working in international environments. Securing and developing global talent with language skills and cross-cultural understanding is also a critical management issue for companies. On the other hand, challenges in Japan's English proficiency continue to be pointed out. In the 15th edition (2025 edition) of the "EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI)," an annual report published by EF Education First, which surveyed approximately 2.2 million participants from 123 countries and regions worldwide, Japan ranked 96th. This position is low compared to international standards, making the development of globally competitive talent an important theme for Japanese society.

Against this backdrop, university students and young professionals are increasingly interested in:

・What skills are necessary to work globally? ・What kind of talent is sought after by global companies? ・How can one build an international career?

EF Education First is holding this career event themed "The Power to Work Globally" based on this social context. Through the experiences and perspectives of speakers who have built careers in global companies, the event aims to provide young people with an opportunity to consider the possibilities of international careers and the importance of English proficiency. ■Foreign-Affiliated and Global Companies'