Asian Social Science; Vol. 15, No. 3; 2019 ISSN 1911-2017 E-ISSN 1911-2025 Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education Human Capital and English Language Proficiency in the Chinese Context Xiaoyu Luo1 & Shawn P. Daly2 1 International College, Hunan Institute of Engineering, Hunan, China 2 College of Business, Niagara University, New York, United States Correspondence: Xiaoyu Luo, No.88, Fuxing Middle Road, Hunan Institute of Engineering, Xiangtan, Hunan, China. Tel: 86-133-1732-5888. E-mail:
[email protected] Received: June 28, 2018 Accepted: July 7, 2018 Online Published: February 28, 2019 doi:10.5539/ass.v15n3p73 URL: https://doi.org/10.5539/ass.v15n3p73 Abstract The employment problem of college graduates has evoked concern around the world, which is particularly prominent in China in recent years. At the same time, English language proficiency of Chinese college students has been emphasized within their university academic requirements as well as from prospective employers. The consequent market pressure on Chinese college students to obtain language qualifications has created an environment where not only the utility, but also the symbolic value of English proficiency has become essential. Human capital theory describes the complex connection between language proficiency and employment, as a foreign language skill, English is similar to other human capital and has the potential for economic value. From the theoretical perspective for relationship between English language proficiency and employment of college graduates based on human theory, recommendations are made for further both scholarly research and practitioner policies, namely: National College English Teaching Syllabus, Regulations for Full-time Undergraduate Bachelor’s Degree-granting, and Regulations for the Graduation Project.