Increased use of AI in language services is rapidly reshaping the work landscape for linguists. According to findings detailed in The Slator Pro Guide: The Future of Language Industry Jobs, AI is impacting the demand for traditional expert-in-the-loop services, upskilling, and potential shifts in career trajectories.

Slator surveyed 260 linguists who work as freelance translators, freelance interpreters, in-house translators, and in-house interpreters, to see how their tasks and jobs have changed in the context of AI.

Some of the key survey findings indicate decreasing demand for traditional linguistic services, particularly among freelance translators, with more than half reporting that requests for their services had dipped in the 12 months before June 2023.

The majority attributed this drop to AI and believe that the trend will continue over the next five years. The data also revealed that one in five freelance translators and interpreters have actively applied for new jobs during the same period.

Slator Pro Guide: The Future of Language Industry Jobs

This 80-page guide analyzes employment trends in the language services and technology industry.

At the same time, 22% of linguists reported an increase in demand over the past year, with freelance interpreters more likely to report an upward trend compared to freelance translators.

Over 50% of freelance translators and interpreters have also considered switching careers both within or outside the language services industry.

In response to the evolving market, linguists are actively upskilling. A third of those who participated in the survey acquired new skills in AI over the previous year, and 45% increased their subject matter knowledge.

Tasks for which linguists are being hired other than machine translation post-editing (MTPE) include AI prompting, terminology management, data management, and categorizing, labeling, and annotating data to train large language models (LLMs).

The survey also sheds light on the types of linguists most likely to consider leaving the profession, about a quarter of respondents. Those more inclined toward seeking alternative career paths appear to be keen on specializing in Professional Services, Technology, and Life Sciences.

To learn more, get your copy of The Slator Pro Guide: The Future of Language Industry Jobs.