The Growth of the Translation Industry and the Rising Demand for Machine Translation Post-Editing

The global translation industry has experienced significant growth in recent years, driven by the increasing globalisation of business and the need for companies to communicate across linguistic barriers. This growth is evident in legal, medical, technical, and marketing industries, where accurate, nuanced translations are critical for compliance, customer engagement, and local market penetration. According to the statistics, the industry’s value in 2023 was $40.95 billion, increased to $41.78 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach $49.02 billion by 2032 at a 2.02% CAGR. This growth stems not only from human translation services but also from the rapid advancement and widespread adoption of machine translation technologies, which are revolutionising how language services are delivered.

The Rise of Machine Translation

Machine translation has been around since the mid-20th century, but recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and neural networks have drastically improved its accuracy and reliability. Tools like Google Translate, DeepL, and Microsoft Translator are based on neural machine translation, which leverages deep learning to produce more natural and accurate translations by analysing vast amounts of bilingual text data. The global machine translation market, which was valued at around $800 million in 2020, is expected to grow at a staggering compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.6%, reaching over $4 billion by 2030.

This growth is driven by several factors. Firstly, businesses seek cost-effective, scalable translation solutions as they expand into new markets, and MT offers a much quicker, cheaper alternative to traditional human translation. Secondly, the increasing sophistication of MT tools, particularly with neural networks and AI, means that the quality of machine-generated translations is improving rapidly. This makes MT an attractive option for many companies, especially for content that needs to be translated at scale, such as websites, user manuals, and e-commerce product descriptions.

The Role of Machine Translation Post-Editing (MTPE)

Despite the advances, machine translation has its limits. MT systems can struggle with complex sentence structures, idiomatic expressions, cultural nuances, and specialised jargon. This is where machine translation post-editing comes into play. Post-editing involves a human translator reviewing and refining machine-generated translations to ensure they meet the required accuracy, fluency, and cultural appropriateness.

The need for MTPE has grown in tandem with the rise of machine translation. Many businesses realise that while MT can significantly reduce translation costs and turnaround times, human expertise is still essential to polish the output for professional use. In sectors such as legal, medical, and technical industries—where precise and accurate translations are non-negotiable—post-editors play a critical role in ensuring the final translation is of high quality.

Growing Demand for MT Post-Editors

As the use of MT continues to expand, so too does the demand for qualified post-editors. MTPE requires a specialised skill set that combines linguistic expertise with an understanding of how machine translation systems work. Post-editors must not only correct grammatical and syntactical errors but also enhance the overall readability and ensure the translation captures the original tone and intent. This has led to the emergence of a distinct career path within the translation industry, with many professionals transitioning from traditional translation roles to MTPE.

The demand for post-editors is projected to grow rapidly in the coming years, as more companies adopt machine translation as part of their localisation strategies. The increasing reliance on MT for high-volume, time-sensitive content creates a strong need for post-editing services to ensure that even machine-generated translations maintain the quality and precision needed in today’s global marketplace.

Conclusion

The translation industry is transforming, with machine translation at the forefront of this change. While the industry as a whole is growing steadily, the rapid adoption of MT is outpacing the growth of traditional human translation services. However, the limitations of MT underscore the importance of machine translation post-editing, a field that is becoming increasingly critical to ensure high-quality translations. As businesses continue to seek faster, more cost-effective ways to reach global audiences, the demand for skilled post-editors will only continue to rise, shaping the future of the translation industry.

References

2024 Translation Industry Trends and Stats
https://redokun.com/blog/translation-statistics

Slator 2024 Language Industry Market Report
https://slator.com/2024-language-industry-market-report-language-ai-edition/

Machine Translation Market Size & Share Analysis – Growth Trends & Forecasts (2024 – 2029)
https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/machine-translation-market

Machine Translation Market Size & Share Analysis – Growth Trends & Forecasts (2024 – 2031)
https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/industry-reports/machine-translation-market/market-size-and-trends