Diverse language skills are in demand in the downturn, according to a report from multilingual recruiter Euro London Appointments.

The report finds that while Dutch, German, Japanese and Russian remain popular within finance, Euro London has witnessed an increased demand for Arabic, Gujarati, Polish, Czech, Cantonese and Korean as firms seek to enter new and alternative markets.

Steve Shacklock, joint managing director at Euro London, says: “With the economic picture and the recruitment market varying so much across the globe, organisations in the UK are realising the importance of maximising on relationships with their customers overseas.

“This is not only in Europe but increasingly across Asia too, making language ability an even more valuable skill than ever.”