Poland - UK migration Flashcards
Background
Peterborough and Slough - mass movement of Polish people
431,000 Polish migrants have been registered to work in the UK
Migration is set to increase the UKs population to 65 million by 2016
62% of all Eastern European migrants are from Poland
Pull factors
In 2007 there were 607,000 job vacancies for skilled/ semi skilled workers
Many establish Polish communities in the UK
Tesco advertised in Poland for 140 lorry divers
Average income in UK is $30,000 a year
Minimum wage in UK is £5.93 on hour
Push factors
Standard of living in Poland is 40% of the EU average
Average income in Poland is $12,500 a year
Cleaners in the UK get paid more than nurses in Poland
Economic impact
The influx of migrants is said to increase house prices by 10% of the next 20 years
Estimated that Poles have send £1 billion home that could have been spend in the UK economy
10% of Poles have migrated to rural areas which would have declined otherwise
Around £2.8 billion has been spent in the UK economy
Influx of migrants is said to have pushed wages down
Social impacts
Over 500 Polish doctors have migrated
Strain on services as nurses can’t communicate with patients
Schools can’t cope with the number of different languages
Increased migration means increased rubbish and pollution
Migrants so low paid jobs that we otherwise wouldn’t do
Impacts on Poland
Shortage of workers
Gender imbalance (mainly men who have left)
2 million Poles have left
Women have to take on traditionally male jobs
Lack of people working on farms= increased food prices
Poland loses skilled workers
Gdansk- extreme shortage of male workers
