The Importance of English Language Proficiency on Employability in Malaysia among Non-English Major Students

English language proficiency has become significant in the universal job market, especially for university graduates who aspire to secure employment in a competitive environment. This quantitative study investigates the impact of English proficiency on the employability of Malaysians among 228 non-English major students from two public universities. The study explored students' perceptions of how English skills enhance their career opportunities through an online survey. The findings revealed that the majority of the students agree that English is important both to secure jobs and to improve performance. Nonetheless, although there were no significant gender differences, the research uncovered significant ethnic differences, with Chinese and other respondents valuing English more than their Malay respondents. The findings shed light on the critical issue in employability, showing how improving English proficiency can sharpen the job prospects of Malaysian graduates and address a critical issue in employability for non-English major students.

English language proficiency, employability

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