Now is the time for fluent French speakers to find a job in development, according to global development recruiters.

More than half of respondents to the “Devex Career Trends in 2015” survey listed French as the most in demand language — over Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, Chinese and Russian — 

when asked which language other than English they predict will be most in demand for their organization’s hiring in 2015.

Recruiters identified French as the most in-demand language.

But recruiters might not find that talent in the United States. Enrollment in French language programs in universities across the U.S. is on the decline just as demand for skilled French speakers within global development is on the rise, particularly in West Africa.