The 80-page Slator Pro Guide: The Future of Language Industry Jobs provides an in-depth analysis of job dynamics in the language services and technology industry during the AI era. It examines the creation, adaptation, and displacement of jobs from the viewpoints of language service providers (LSPs), enterprise buyers of translation and localization services, and freelance linguists.

More specifically, the report analyzes how AI is affecting the tasks of localization professionals, how it is forging new jobs, modifying existing roles, or creating entirely new career paths across the industry.

Drawing on a blend of desk research, proprietary data, interviews, and custom surveys, the report analyzes qualitative and quantitative data to extract overall trends that are shaping the language services and technology industry today.

The report examines job creation in relation to the annual revenue of leading LSPs and their median employee tenure. It also explores the challenges that LSPs face when sourcing and retaining localization talent. 

The report discusses how changes in departmental headcount can indicate shifting LSP strategies and priorities, particularly in terms of AI-related services, and provides an analysis of current LSP employees with AI-related roles or responsibilities.

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This is complemented by an analysis of current job vacancies within LSPs that are AI-focused, offering a spotlight on how LSPs are hiring for AI-related functions within multiple internal departments.

In addition, the report presents the perspective of enterprise buyers of localization services. More specifically, it details which companies have reduced headcount in localization functions in recent years, which companies have created roles — particularly in terms of AI — and how jobs are being adapted to the new AI landscape. It also provides insight into how AI has changed the way that localization divisions view the collaboration with LSPs, and how AI is shifting the priorities of enterprise buyers.

The report also contains detailed insight into the changing supply and demand of freelance and in-house linguists. As key actors in the language services and technology industry, these linguistic experts reveal how AI has affected the demand for their services, how they believe demand will fluctuate in the future, and how this is impacting their own career prospects and ambitions.

These insights are relevant for localization professionals across the full spectrum of the job market, from new entrants to seasoned professionals, regardless of the role or department that they occupy. 

The information and data presented in this report will allow professionals to make informed decisions on their own careers, as well as hiring decisions within localization departments of LSPs and buyer organizations.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary	5
Overview of the Slator Pro Guide: The Future of Language Industry Jobs with insight into the report contents and research.
Summary of Findings	6
A summary of all the key findings from the report, with easy-to-digest bullet points organized under key themes.
Introduction	8
A high-level introduction to the evolution of the job market for translation and localization professionals through time in the context of AI.
The Localization Job Market in 2024	10
An introduction to the factors affecting the supply and demand of the localization job market.
LSP Workforce Trends	12
Analysis of job creation and destruction of language-related jobs in the first six months of 2024, relative to job department and type. Includes information on average tenure across language service providers, and analysis by size of organization and location.
LSP Job Roles	19
Analysis of the current job vacancies in language service providers, with in-depth analysis on job type, department, and region.
Growth of AI Roles at LSPs	28
Overview of the number of LSP employees with “AI” in their job title according to data sourced on LinkedIn.
Current Employees with AI Roles at LSPs	29
Analysis of existing AI roles within the largest LSPs, including analysis of where these employees are based, and which department they work in.
AI Skills Required by LSPs	36
Analysis of the skills required for AI-related job vacancies in LSPs. Includes sample job descriptions and skill sets for each department where AI skills are in demand.
Data-for-AI Roles at LSPs	45
Analysis of existing Data-for-AI roles within the largest LSPs, including analysis of where these employees are based, and which department they work in.
Building an AI-Ready LSP Workforce	51
Analysis of Slator’s LSP Survey on the future jobs with AI, including 20 new skills for an AI-ready workforce.
The Localization Job Market at Enterprises	54
An introduction to the factors affecting the supply and demand of the localization job market at enterprises.
Localization Workforce Strategy	55
In-depth analysis of how enterprises hire localization decision makers, and recent job destruction within enterprise localization teams.
How Enterprise Localization Roles are Changing	59
Analysis of localization roles at enterprises and how these are changing, with two case studies. Includes insight from buyers of localization services, interviewed exclusively for this report.
The Linguist Job Market	66
Presentation of survey findings among freelance linguists, including how the demand for linguists is changing with AI, and ultimately how the supply of linguists in the job market may fluctuate in the future. Includes an analysis of future career prospects of linguists, and profiling of linguists planning to exit the industry.
Insights from Mentors and Talent Professionals	80
Insight and predictions from talent professionals and mentors in the language services and technology industry, on future jobs and skills needed to meet industry demand in the short to medium term.

How to Use This Report

The Slator Pro Guide: The Future of Language Industry Jobs can be used to gain a deeper understanding of the job market among LSPs, enterprise buyers, and freelance linguists, and how AI is affecting the supply and demand of language-related jobs across the language services and technology industry. 

The report contains curated sources, data, and insights to allow all language industry professionals, whether LSPs, enterprise buyers, or freelance linguists, to make informed decisions on their own careers, as well as hiring decisions within localization departments of LSPs and buyer organizations.