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Language services

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Canadians speak more than 100 languages besides French and English. Depending on the community, a visitor might hear Chinese, Italian, German, Punjabi, Inuktituk or Cree.

Not surprisingly, firms involved in supplying language services have a strong market in Canada. In 2004, more than 14,000 people worked as translators, language teachers and interpreters, either as permanent or contract workers, in the 600 private firms that make up the language services industry.

Together, these firms earned $404.1 million in revenues. Classroom and online training accounted for almost half of revenues or $193.2 million. Translation services revenues reached $154.1 million, while interpretation totalled $8.7 million. Accommodation fees associated with language study earned another $23.1 million, and a range of other services accounted for $25.0 million.

Nearly 200,000 people were enrolled in language training in 2004. Of the schools surveyed, 84% were private language schools, 9% were non-profit schools and another 7% were colleges, universities and other educational institutions.

The industry employed 7,405 permanent employees, split evenly between full-time and part-time workers. Among these workers, 2,557 were English-language instructors, 628 taught French and 1,033 were translators. Another 6,954 worked on contract.

Two-thirds of schools offered training to foreign students. Students from Asia made up the majority of foreign students, followed by students from Mexico, South and Central America and Europe. One-third of translation and interpretation firms exported goods and services—81% exported to the United States, while 38% exported to Europe.