How important as a hiring criteria are language skills in China?

English skills are sufficient, and today more and more of the younger generation brings in sufficient levels of English language for daily interaction with customers. For roles in a pricier sector, or a retail business exclusively focused on a certain ethnicity, better skills in English or other languages may be required. However, English is still predominant as a first foreign language and the ability to speak a third language is often not found in candidates willing to work in the retail industry.