Agencies Reported Varied Foreign Language Shortages

Officials in the four agencies we reviewed reported varied types and  degrees of foreign language shortages depending on the agency, job  position, language, and skill level. They noted shortages of translators and  interpreters and people with skills in specific languages, as well as a  shortfall in proficiency level among people who use foreign language skills  in their jobs. Agencies Use a Variety of Strategies to Meet Their Foreign Language Needs

Our second objective was to examine federal agencies’ strategies to  address these foreign language shortages. To help fill existing skills shortages, some agencies  have begun to adopt a strategic approach to human capital management  and workforce planning. We used this model to assess the relative maturity of  workforce planning at the four agencies we reviewed. In contrast, the other three agencies have yet to pursue this type of  comprehensive strategic planning and had only completed some of the  steps outlined in OPM’s planning model.
What GAO Found

Federal agencies' foreign language needs have increased during the past decade because of increasing globalization and the changing security environment. At the same time, agencies have seen significant reductions-in-force and no-growth or limited-growth environments during the last decade. As a result, some agencies now confront an aging core of language-capable staff while recruiting and retaining qualified new staff in an increasingly competitive job market. The four agencies GAO reviewed reported shortages of translators and interpreters and other staff, such as diplomats and intelligence specialists, with foreign language skills. These shortfalls varied depending on the agency, job position, language, and skill level. The agencies reported using a range of strategies to address their staffing shortfalls, such as providing employees with language training and pay incentives, recruiting employees with foreign language skills, hiring contractors, or taking advantage of information technology. One of the four agencies has adopted a strategic approach to its workforce planning efforts. In contrast, the other three agencies have yet to pursue overall strategic planning in this area.