Impacts of Eastern European migration

Why have numbers increased since 2004?

In 2004, the EU expanded to include 10 new Eastern European countries with 8 countries having unlimited access to the UK's jobs market. These countries were the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia, known as the "Accession Eight".

Initially, the UK government predicted that there would only be 15,000 people a year moving to the UK from the new European countries. In the first quarter of a year after accession 42,000 came to work in the UK.

BY 2006, AN ESTIMATED 600,000 PEOPLE HAD MIGRATED TO THE UK.

Where have most migrants come from?

7 out of every 10 Eastern European migrants to the UK come from Poland.

The second largest group are Slovakians. The smallest groups are Estonian and Slovenian.

What type of work do migrants do?Eastern European migrants have found jobs all across the UK and are much more widely spread than other groups that have migrated to the UK. Notably, over 5000 new migrants have settled in the Highlands of Scotland and in parts of Norfolk there are an estimated 90 migrant workers for every 1000 local workers – a rate that is only higher in London where there are 307.

Of the 600,000 Eastern Europeans who migrated to the UK between 2004 & 2006, 270,000 work in factories, 40,000 work in warehouses and 32,000 work as packers.

How has it changed the population structure of the UK?

¾ of all Eastern European migrants to the UK are aged 16 – 39 and this has resulted in a mini baby boom with the total number of live births increasing by over 60,000 between 2004 & 2008. Over 40,000 of this increase came from mothers who were born overseas.

Both of these changes are visible on the population pyramids below (esp the increase in births)

Why do Eastern Europeans come to the UK?

The UK was one of 3 countries who did not limit numbers of migrants.

High demand for semi-skilled workers in the UK.

The vast majority of Poles are economic migrants – coming to the UK to find work.

A significant number of migrants are university students coming for their gap year

Salaries in Poland – often around £200 per week are significantly lower than UK avarages

In 2005, unemployment in Poland was 18.5% with some rural areas over 40%.

What are the impacts of Eastern European migration to the UK?

Positive impacts on the UK Negative impacts on the UK

On average, Eastern European worker in the UK work 4 hours a week longer than UK born workers

It has been claimed that the migration has had a negative impact on wages for the worst paid workers in the UK

Three-quarters of EU migrants to the UK in 2007 were aged 16 to 39 so are economically active so may help to diffuse the ‘pension time bomb’

Young people – especially students may find it harder to get part time jobs as employers may prefer to employ migrant workers with existing skills

Many Eastern Europeans do low paid manual work such as fruit picking which many British workers refuse to do.

It has been claimed that immigration has harmed community relations with anxiety over issues such as pressure on public services

Migrant have contributed an estimated £2.5 billion to the UK economy

A high proportion of wages are returned ‘home’ so are not spent in the UK

Very few Eastern European migrants claim state benefits (only 2.4%)

Exploitation of workers through low wages, long hours and poor health and safety standards.