Migration from Poland to the UK

Migration from Poland to the UK

1. Reasons for migration

   • Pull Factors
     • Desire to improve their English skills
     • The UK's unemployment rate is only 5.1%
     • Demand for both skilled and unskilled labour
     • The UK's annual GDP per head in 2006 was $30,900
     • The UK, Ireland and Sweden were the only EU countries not to restrict immigration
   • Push Factors
     • In 2005 the unemployment percentage was 18.2%
       • Rural employment rates at 40%
     • The Poland annual GDP per head in 2006 was $12,700

2. Characteristics of Polish migrants

   • Many migrants plan to work in the UK for a better wage for a few years and then return to Poland with their savings, as the cost of living in the UK is twice as high.
   • Mostly unskilled industrial workers, which are the poorer people in society
     • Usually have to survive on £150 per month in Poland
     • Factory workers make up 25% of the Polish migrants (95,865)
   • Often have young families
   • Polish students come over for a gap year, before or after university
   • Most migrants go to big cities: e.g. London and Birmingham
   • Migrant numbers have increased since the introduction of low cost flight
     • Poland is the second fastest growing air traffic market after China

3. Impact of Migration

   • In the UK
     • Positive
       • £2.4 billion is contributed to british economy every year, by the new coming migrants
       • 80% of migrants are working age, which prevents an ageing population
       • Bank of England stated that migration prevented oil prices from increasing by 0.5%
     • Negative
       • British people are now losing out on employment to the Polish
       • Some employers exploit the migrants and pay them less than they should
       • There has been some cultural tension
   • In Poland
     • Negative
       • Poland is losing working age people, leaving an ageing population
       • Some parents don't bring their children, so children are left in Poland with other family members
     • Positive
       • No overcrowding
       • Unemployment rates go down