Knowing Putonghua is almost as important as knowing English when it comes to finding work and being promoted in Hong Kong, a study has found.

As such, managers at most companies recently said they weren't happy with their staff's language proficiency.

The survey, conducted by Hong Kong Polytechnic University's Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies from September to October, found that 53 percent of senior executives from 197 companies request job applicants to list their Putonghua ability on their resumes.

Forty-four percent of the senior executives said they consider Putonghua test results when making promotions.

The senior executives, who are mostly from the manufacturing, insurance, retailing, wholesaling, banking and hotel industries, said the Putonghua level of their staff needs improvement.

More than 85 percent of the senior executives agree that employees at all levels have to work on their Putonghua oral and listening skills.

The senior executives, in general, think frontline and back office staff should improve their overall Putonghua skills, including pronunciation and vocabulary.

More than 80 percent of the senior executives surveyed said that they encourage employees to take Putonghua proficiency tests.

The survey also shows that executives consider Putonghua almost as important as English as an international language that can increase business growth and competitiveness.

There is less than a 10 percent difference between the proportion of executives who rate Putonghua as important, and those who rate English as important.

Close to 80 percent of the senior executives agree that Putonghua will be very important for business development and competitiveness of their companies in the next five years.

"Employers have to better equip themselves with Putonghua skills to face the challenges of the financial downturn," said Chan Shui-duen, head of the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies.

"A certificate of a Putonghua proficiency test will help employees with their performance reviews," she said.

(HK Edition 12/03/2008 page1)