The importance of Spanish in the oil and gas industry in the US can not be understated. With more than 52 million Spanish-language speakers, America now has the second-largest Spanish-speaking population in the world, after Mexico. It is also estimated that by 2050, the US will become the largest Spanish-speaking country in the world. So it comes as no surprise that the oil and gas industry in the US would consider the Spanish language a vital asset. With the industry being inherently international and the majority of the labor workforce being Hispanic, the need for companies to coordinate communication across all levels is more urgent than ever.

This blog will further explore the importance of the Spanish language and why it continues to be critical to the oil and gas industry in the US.

Economic Benefit

Knowing Spanish in the oil and gas industry could provide a substantial economic benefit as it would improve communication and interactions with potential clients and customers. Major players in this sector include countries such as Mexico and Venezuela, and having the language skills to communicate with these countries would be essential in the long run.

Employee Communication

The importance of the workforce being able to speak and communicate well with each other can not be stressed enough. Many of the jobs typically held within the oil and gas industry in the US are usually very labor-intensive, so being able to understand each other and the instructions provided are critical for safety purposes. It is shown that Hispanic workers in the industry bear a large number of the workplace injuries. A report in 2011 showed that Hispanic oil and gas extraction workers suffered more than a quarter of the industry’s on-the-job injuries. Understanding the language needs of all the workers within the oil and gas industry while having dedicated work training provided to them in their preferred languages is one of the first few steps employers can take in prioritizing safety in the workplace for everyone.

Learning Spanish can Promote Inclusivity

Aside from preventing potential workplace injuries, employees being able to understand each other can promote intercultural awareness in the workplace and avoid cultural and language barriers. When people from different cultures interact in different ways, such as by speaking different languages, holding different cultural values, or using various gestures and symbols, their cultural differences can become barriers to workplace success. When employees can communicate with each other, it can increase engagement, teamwork, productivity, and overall morale.

Final Thoughts

As the US continues to be one of the leading countries in the oil and gas industry, there is no doubt that the Spanish language will come into play in different situations, such as building business relationships with Latin America or ensuring the safety of all workers.