Los Altos, CA – June 2, 2025 — Wordly, the leader in live AI translation, has released its 2025 State of Language Access in Government report, revealing that while government agencies recognize the importance of inclusive communication, budgetary and logistical hurdles continue to hinder widespread adoption of effective solutions.

With over 94% of municipalities serving multilingual communities—but only 11% describing their public meetings as “very inclusive”—the gap is clear. Half of respondents cited budget constraints, while 39% pointed to logistical barriers as the main obstacles to improving language access.

Despite these challenges, the demand for inclusive communication is rising, with 61% of municipalities reporting an increase in non-native English speakers. As government budgets tighten, the public sector is turning to real-time AI tools to meet multilingual communication needs more efficiently.

“This is not just a communications upgrade; it’s a digital transformation,” said Lakshman Rathnam, Founder and CEO of Wordly. “AI translation is now a critical tool for communities navigating demographic shifts and rising service demands. Cities no longer need to choose between doing nothing or spending thousands of dollars per day on live interpreters. With real-time AI solutions, residents can simply scan a QR code to follow public meetings or access services in their preferred language—no special equipment, no scheduling, just instant access. It’s easy, scalable, and budget-friendly.”

Priorities: Access to Services, Civic Participation, Public Safety

Governments identified the following as top priorities for improving language access:

• 81% – Access to essential public services (e.g., permits, passports)

• 67% – Civic participation (e.g., city council meetings)

• 61% – Public safety alerts and communication

Beyond DEI: Language Access as a Strategic Advantage

Language access isn’t just about inclusion—it’s a smart investment in stronger, more connected communities.

• 83% believe inclusive communication strengthens resident collaboration

• 79% say it helps meet legal and regulatory requirements

• 70% view it as a tool for attracting and retaining a diverse, skilled workforce

Civic Engagement & AI Trends

• 66% rely on bilingual staff—a model that doesn’t scale in multilingual communities

• Only 31% currently use AI tools, signaling significant growth potential

• Early adopters (e.g., San José, CA and LA County) report high ROI, including major cost savings and improved access to real-time information during emergencies like wildfires

Population Drives Tech Readiness

• 56% of large cities (300,000+) are actively evaluating AI solutions

• 74% of mid-sized cities (50,000–299,999) consider language access “very important,” but face budget and logistics challenges

• 76% of small cities (under 50,000) report their public meetings are not inclusive

Regional Trends: Red and Blue States Align

Blue states report higher linguistic diversity, while red states are experiencing faster growth in non-native English-speaking populations. Still, both regions agree: over 80% cite improved community collaboration as a key benefit of inclusive communication.

A Call to CIOs, CTOs, and GovTech Leaders

This report is a wake-up call for government IT leaders: the next frontier in modernizing public communication is multilingual and AI-powered. Real-time translation has evolved from a “nice-to-have” to a mission-critical capability for inclusive governance.

Access the Report

The full report is available for public download at:
https://offers.wordly.ai/wordly-2025-state-of-language-access-report

Research Methodology

Wordly partnered with SmartBrief and ICMA to survey 117 local government employees in March 2025. Respondents represented municipalities of all sizes—from small towns to large cities—with nearly half (47%) serving populations between 50,000 and 300,000.

The study focused on language access, multilingual communication, and the role of AI translation in enhancing accessibility and civic engagement. Over 94% of respondents serve multilingual communities, and 22% reported more than 10 languages spoken locally. Participants included professionals from communications, community engagement, IT, and public safety departments.

About Wordly

Wordly is the pioneer and leader in AI translation, offering a high-quality, secure, easy-to-use, and affordable live translation and captioning solution for multilingual communication. Wordly’s platform translates dozens of languages in real time, making in-person and virtual events more inclusive and accessible. It meets enterprise-grade security and privacy standards and eliminates the need for human interpreters or special equipment. Trusted by millions across corporate, nonprofit, government, education, and religious sectors. Learn more at www.wordly.ai.

About SmartBrief

A subsidiary of Future Plc, SmartBrief is the leading digital media publisher of targeted business news by industry. With a combination of editorial expertise and technology, SmartBrief delivers curated daily news to nearly 7 million senior executives, thought leaders, and professionals in partnership with leading associations and corporations.

About ICMA

ICMA is the leading organization of local government professionals committed to building thriving communities. With over 13,000 members worldwide, ICMA accelerates the adoption of best practices through research, professional development, data, and training for local government leaders and their teams.