Language Access Research

Wordly partnered with SmartBrief to survey 117 public sector employees from municipalities across the U.S. to better understand how local governments are approaching multilingual communication. The survey was administered online in March and published May 2025.

2025 State of Language Access in Government Agencies

Language access is becoming a top priority for public agencies across the U.S., and for good reason. Millions of residents don’t speak the local language but still rely on government services. Agencies are under pressure to communicate more clearly, even as budgets shrink and staff are stretched thin. The stakes are high: emergencies, public meetings, and essential updates all require fast, inclusive communication.

Government professionals surveyed in 2025 identified three key benefits they expect from improved language access:

• Fostering Community Collaboration: 83% say better language access strengthens collaboration between local governments and residents.
• Improving Regulatory Compliance: 79% believe clear, accessible communication helps meet legal and policy requirements.
• Growing a Skilled Workforce: 70% view language inclusivity as a way to attract and retain more diverse, qualified employees.

Wordly helps public agencies meet these rising demands, without breaking their budgets.

The Demand for Inclusive Communication is Growing

The number of non-native English speakers is increasing in the majority of municipalities, and 65% of government professionals now consider language access “very important.” Yet the need is not being met – 62% say their meetings are “low” or “not at all” inclusive.

Top barriers to more effective language access include:

• Budget Constraints: 50% say funding limitations are the primary reason they haven’t implemented stronger solutions.
• Logistical Complexity: 39% face challenges coordinating multilingual support, especially with limited staff capacity and multiple languages.
• Over-Reliance on Informal Solutions: Most agencies still lean on bilingual employees (66%) or translated written materials (50%), which can lead to inconsistent communication.

These gaps reveal an urgent need for more scalable, consistent solutions that can deliver inclusive communication without overburdening teams.

Top Priorities and a Clear Opportunity to Modernize

When asked about their language access priorities, government professionals pointed to services that directly impact public safety, access, and participation:

• 81% prioritize public services like permits and passport applications
• 67% say civic engagement is a key focus
• 61% highlight public safety as a concern

Despite these clear priorities, only 21% of agencies are actively investing in staff training for language access, indicating a workforce readiness gap. At the same time, more modern tools remain underused. AI translation software (31%) and professional interpreters (27%) are still not widely adopted, though interest is rising.

Here's where agencies stand today:

• Already using AI translation: 31%
• Currently evaluating options: 24%
• Planning to evaluate: 33%

The momentum is building. With the right tools, public agencies can deliver more accessible services, improve engagement, and create a more inclusive experience for every resident—no matter what language they speak.