BarcelonaWhat language is spoken in companies, on the assembly line or at the reception? Data on language use in the workplace has been sparse and generic, and often marked by biases and intuitions. The UGT has drawn up a first study which allows it to interact with 935 trade union delegates from all over the territory and from all working areas. And it follows that bilingual use is by far the most widespread at work (72%), but with a predominance of Spanish, a difference that widens radically in metropolitan regions. If the bad news is that Catalan is a minority in certain working environments, the good news is that it is practically always present: 85% of the people interviewed say they use Catalan at work and 95% say they can speak it. This is why another surprising fact is: 50% would like to improve their knowledge of Catalan.
If we look at the global data, 41% of delegates say they use Spanish more at work, 35% use Catalan more, 18% are bilingual and 5% have other language combinations. Only 10% and 13% use Catalan and Spanish exclusively respectively, which shows that bilingualism is predominant.
In industry, 27% of companies regularly use Catalan; in the public sector the percentage rises to 54%
But there are two factors that divide the sample: work sectors and territory. In industry only 27% of people regularly use Catalan, while in the services, mobility and consumer sectors the percentage drops to 23%; in both cases, almost half use Spanish more. However, if we look at the public sector, 54% of delegates use Catalan more.
The other big difference derives from the territorial scope, which records very unequal uses. In the Baix Llobregat, Vallès Occidental, Vallès Oriental, in the neighborhoods of Camp de Tarragona and in the city of Barcelona, less than 30% of the delegates predominantly speak Catalan, with a minimum in L’Hospitalet, where 12% speak it normally. At the other extreme, in areas such as the north of Barcelonès, the regions of Girona, Osona, the Ebro and the lands of Lleida, the predominant use of Catalan rises from 40% to 70%. The territorial difference is a constant that has persisted since the 1970s: “The fracture is deep-rooted, with an immigrant workforce in the metropolitan area that usually does not speak Catalan,” says Amado Alarcón. The study was conducted by the economist Antonio Di Paolo of the University of Barcelona and the sociologist Amado Alarcón of the Rovira i Virgili University on the basis of anonymous and voluntary surveys, to which 8% of the organization’s trade union delegates responded
Who trains the workers?
So far the administration has focused on training adults outside working hours (a training that is saturated and does not meet demand). What the UGT proposes is a “chip change” so that language training is treated as equivalent to any professional training and is offered during working hours. “Catalan has never been taught in the workplace,” says Camil Ros, general secretary of the UGT in Catalonia.
According to the study, 56% of delegates would be interested in taking a course in person during working hours. “When the company installs a new machine and explains to us how it works, it does so during the working day. If Catalan is a productive and service tool, it must be like the rest of the training. We must have the latest technology and the most people educated as possible, and this will make companies more competitive”, observes Ros. The union underlines that cuts in the public sector and the precariousness of the private sector also affect the language; for example in fixed-term contracts in the healthcare sector, where Catalan is optional. “The administration is now criticizing a situation that it created,” he laments.
The union asks that, within the framework of the National Language Pact, a step be taken to improve the provision of Catalan in the company – “Why is it easier to speak English or Russian than Catalan at work?”, they ask -, which can be officially accredited and which has a greater presence in professional training. ”Workers have no reluctance to learn Catalan, on the contrary they ask for it,” says the general secretary of the UGT. Citizens are also asking for it, complaining about language discrimination in the service sector.
Interview: Exploring Workplace Language Dynamics in Catalonia
Editor (Time.news): Welcome, Dr. Amado Alarcón, noted sociologist from Rovira i Virgili University and co-author of the recent UGT study on language use in the workplace. It’s a pleasure to have you with us to unpack these significant findings.
Amado Alarcón: Thank you for having me. It’s great to be here and discuss the nuances of language in the professional environment.
Editor: Let’s dive right in. Your study shows that bilingualism is predominant in Catalonia’s workplace, with 72% of respondents identifying as bilingual. Can you elaborate on the implications of this finding for both employers and employees?
Amado: Absolutely. The predominance of bilingualism indicates a flexible linguistics environment that can enhance communication and collaboration across diverse teams. Employers should recognize that supporting both Spanish and Catalan reflects inclusivity and boosts morale among employees. Meanwhile, employees can benefit from leveraging both languages in their work, which can enhance career opportunities and advancement.
Editor: That’s insightful. However, the study reveals a disparity in language use across different sectors. For instance, only 27% of companies in the industrial sector regularly use Catalan. What do you think accounts for this variation?
Amado: The differences largely stem from the sector’s nature and its workforce demographics. The industrial sector, for example, often has a higher proportion of workers from outside Catalonia, who may not be fluent in Catalan. In contrast, the public sector employs a workforce that tends to be more engaged with the Catalan language, as evident from the 54% who predominantly use it at work. This situation illustrates a broader cultural and social landscape that we must navigate.
Editor: Speaking of demographics, your research highlights significant territorial disparities—like the 12% use of Catalan in L’Hospitalet versus 40-70% in other areas like Girona or Osona. What do these disparities suggest about the integration of language within communities?
Amado: This segmentation is critical. The historical context of immigration in metropolitan regions contributes to these figures; many newcomers may not speak Catalan, affecting its prevalence in workplaces. This fracture has persisted since the 1970s and underscores the importance of creating inclusive programs that promote the Catalan language throughout various communities—both in terms of understanding and respect for the culture.
Editor: You also mention that there’s a noteworthy desire among the workforce to improve their knowledge of Catalan—50% of respondents expressed this interest. What does this suggest about workplace culture and opportunities for professional development?
Amado: The interest in improving Catalan language skills is a positive sign that employees value cultural and linguistic connections in their professional environments. It suggests there’s an opportunity for companies to invest in language training programs—both to meet worker demand and to cultivate a more cohesive organizational culture. Upskilling in language can lead to greater job satisfaction and retention rates.
Editor: The UGT advocates for improved adult training, particularly during work hours. How do you envision implementing such training to meet the demand?
Amado: The key is collaboration between employers, government, and educational institutions. By integrating language training within the work schedule, businesses can create an accessible learning path for employees. This approach alleviates the burden of after-hours learning and allows for immediate application of skills in the workplace. It would require commitment and resources from all stakeholders, but the potential benefits for workplace cohesion and productivity are substantial.
Editor: Thank you, Dr. Alarcón, for your valuable insights! It seems we have a complex but optimistic landscape regarding language use in workplaces across Catalonia.
Amado: Thank you! It has been a pleasure discussing this important topic, and I’m hopeful that with the right actions, we can foster a more inclusive linguistic environment in our professional spaces.
Editor: We appreciate your time today, and we look forward to seeing how these findings can lead to positive changes in workplace culture.