Effect of Communicative Competence in English Over Evolving Job Roles of CPEC: A Critical Analysis of Pakistani Labor Market

Abstract

This research paper critically analyses the Pakistani job market and evaluates the importance of communicative competence in over the realization of the job potential of employees working on the CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor) project. The CPEC project is a multi-dimensional infrastructure-based project that has injected Pakistan with not only great economic potential but also with a multi-lingual work force with a diverse cultural capital. This multi-lingual work force requires better communication standards to function as teams and this study tries to evaluate the effect communicative competence on the careers of employees in this sector. The paper conducted surveys from 10-15 major companies associated with the CPEC project and anonymous employee responses were collected. Data were analyzed qualitatively using strategic competence framework of Canale and Swain (1980). The study found that team leaders that were competent communicators yielded better results from their perspective teams and had higher levels of employee satisfaction. Furthermore, study revealed that people skilled in communication skills had higher chances of career growth and progress as compared to technically skilled personnel.

Emerging Challenges in Technical Vocational Education and Training of Pakistan in the Context of CPEC

“…Magsi (2016) noted that entering into the labor market without any skills and qualifications causes low income. Similarly, Amjad, (Amjad 2005) in his study on skill and competencies, highlighted the issue of the low-skill trap, and he emphasized that if Pakistan wants to enter into a skilled economy, it must get out of this trap; Anwar (Anwer and Gill 2020) suggested that communication skills provide higher opportunities for career growth. Thomas Chamorro called skills the global currency, where individual skills may depreciate if they are not updated or used (Chamorro-Premuzic and Becky 2019).…”

Teachers’ perspectives on effective English language teaching practices at the elementary level: A phenomenological study

“…After the 18th amendment to the constitution of Pakistan in 2010, the Department of Education was devolved to the provincial level, and every province is responsible for its improvement and policy-making [ 5 , 6 ]. Similarly, in Punjab, the government emphasized enhancing the infrastructure of educational and vocational institutions along with a specific focus on English language learning and teaching due to the growing impact and demand in the local market and internationally [ 7 ].…”

Language Management & Development in CPEC: A Case Study of Special Economic Zone of Punjab

“…It's regarded as a huge step to move ahead of time and is regarded as a hot topic for research and discussion these days (Hilali, 2020;Shahbaz Aslam & Farooq, 2020;Rasoola & Kundib, 2018;Iqbal, 2017). But there is still a gap in the literature as very few studies have highlighted the role of language in CPEC (Anwer & Gill, 2020;Anjum & Manzoor, 2020). Moroever, a few studies have been conducted on CPEC but very few of them focused on the Punjab region (Hussain & Aziz, 2020).…”