[lg policy] Interpreting market study results to be presented next week

Thu Jun 10 18:39:48 UTC 2010

Forwarded From: Nataly Kelly <nataly at commonsenseadvisory.com>
Date: Thu, Jun 10, 2010 at 2:02 PM

Dear Colleagues,

Please see below for a press release regarding the findings of an
important new study of the interpreting market that will be presented
next week.

The release includes some preliminary findings that may be of interest.

Feel free to forward on to other lists, groups, and individuals as you see fit.

Kindest regards,

Nataly Kelly

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

First-Ever Comprehensive Study of the North American Interpreting Market

Market data, interpreter pay rates, and other results to be revealed
at Washington DC summit

10 June 2010

(Washington, DC) – They enable courts, hospitals, schools, and
businesses throughout North America to convey messages to millions of
people each day. Leaders of nations cannot communicate without them.
Even athletes and celebrities need them to reach out to their fans.
No, it isn’t Twitter, Facebook, the latest feature from Google, or
even the newest iPhone.  The communication tool in question?  Human
interpreters.

According to a research study conducted by Common Sense Advisory and
commissioned by InterpretAmerica, interpreters are instrumental to
both the public and private sectors. The report, which highlights the
results of a survey of 1,135 interpreters throughout North America
across every major industry sector, reveals that interpreters earn
between US$43.14 and US$65.96 per hour on average, depending on their
location and specialization. However, the study points out that only
24% of the interpreters surveyed had full-time employment.  “About a
quarter of the interpreters we surveyed – 26.9% – earn more than
US$50,000 per year, making it an attractive profession,” explained
Nataly Kelly, the lead author of the study, “Our research has
repeatedly shown that the interpreting market is growing at a fast
pace, fueled by legislation and increased awareness of the need for
interpreting services.”

The study shows that interpreters are a highly educated group. More
than three quarters (78.9%) of the respondents reported having a
bachelor’s degree, and nearly half (44.7%) had a master’s or doctoral
degree. However, only 28.9% of respondents reported having a
university degree in interpreting, and 7.6% of interpreters reported
that they had no formal training whatsoever in interpreting. “Training
and education for interpreters are critical regardless of where or how
they work, and the core skills of interpreting are quite similar
across all sectors,” says Barry Slaughter Olsen, co-founder of
InterpretAmerica. “This is one of the primary reasons we decided to
gather leaders from all areas of interpreting at a single event, to
discuss these common interests.”

However, the report also points out that the interpreting profession
is quickly aging. Forty-seven percent of interpreters have worked in
the field for more than 15 years. “Interpreting is a vastly
undermarketed, underpublicized profession, especially within younger
generations,” explains Katharine Allen, co-founder of
InterpretAmerica. “Many bilingual staff pressed into interpreting at
work may not even realize they are taking part in a professional
activity that not only requires training, but which also offers a
pathway to a dynamic career. An interpreter might be working one day
for a high-profile court case, the next day for a business executive,
and the next day in the emergency room of a hospital. The life of an
interpreter is certainly never boring.”

The full findings of the study will be presented at the 1st North
American Summit on Interpreting, which takes place on June 17th, 2010
at the Doubletree Crystal City – Reagan National Airport Hotel in
Washington, DC.

The report includes the following major findings:

Average daily and hourly rates and salaries for interpreters
throughout North America
Average rates paid by buy-side organizations for interpreting services
Average rates charged by interpreting agencies
Most common languages requested
Data on attitudes toward interpreter certification, training, and technology
Anonymized verbatim quotes from interpreters, vendors of interpreting
services, and purchasing organizations

Members of the media will be provided with a copy of the report upon
request. A limited number of free media passes for the event are also
available.

About Common Sense Advisory

Common Sense Advisory, Inc. is an independent research and analysis
firm specializing in the on- and offline operations driving business
globalization, internationalization, localization, translation, and
interpretation. Its research, consulting, and training help
organizations improve the quality of their global business operations.
For more information, visit: www.commonsenseadvisory.com  or
www.twitter.com/CSA_Research.

About InterpretAmerica

InterpretAmerica, LLC was established to provide a national forum for
the interpreting profession. Through conferences, discussion groups,
its website, and other activities, it brings together the community,
conference, legal, medical, military, and signed language interpreting
sectors, as well as buyers and vendors of interpreting services.
InterpretAmerica seeks to elevate the profile and reach of the
interpreting industry to the benefit of all. For more information,
visit: www.interpretamerica.net or www.twitter.com/interpamerica.

Media Contact: Melissa Gillespie, Melissa at commonsenseadvisory.com, 760-522-4362

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