How has the population flow between Poland and the UK changed over time?

Answer 1

Many migrants are moving from Poland to the UK in search of jobs. Polish people can migrate to the UK easily because the borders are relaxed and there isn't a limit to how many migrants are able to enter our country. Polish people want to migrate to the UK, especially Peterborough because the wages can be up to 5 times as much as they earn in Poland. Also, the jobs available are of a better standard and easier to get because the English don't want those jobs. These jobs are often referred to as the 3Ds (difficult, dirty and dangerous) and the 3Ps (picking, packing and processing).

There are many impacts on the UK, both positive and negative, each category including social and economic factors. For example, positive economic factors include - The Polish people have had a positive impact on our labour market, the migrant workers are prepared to do jobs that British workers are not prepared to do. The migrant workers add a lot of money to our economy by spending, the average migrant worker earns £20,000 a year of which, £6000 - £7000 is disposable income. Negative social impacts include police forces have to deal with over 100 different languages and therefore have to pay for a translator, this can cost up to £800,000. Finally, positive social impacts include Scotland has just proclaimed that immigrants from Eastern Europe have triggered a baby boom, births in Scotland in the first three months of 2007 went up by 650 over the first quarter of 2006. The migrants are also making the UK workforce younger; this has eased the pension burden, they also need housing that has helped to regenerate many inner city areas. Finally, the development of Polish shops on many Polish shops on many British high streets adds to the cultural mix of the British society. There are also Polish bars, newspapers and internet radio stations.

There are also many impacts on Poland, both positive and negative, each category including social and economic factors. For example, negative economical impacts. In 2005, 10% of jobs in the construction industry could not be filled, by early 2007 this figure had risen to 35% due to a shortage of workers due to migration. Also, the main Polish current affairs magazine, Polityka, has launched a scheme called Stay With Us. This is due to persuade the country's leading young people to resist the many pull factors to migration. About 100 scientists and researchers have each received a one-off payment of £5000 to stay in Poland. This is equal to ten months pay. A positive economic factor is that salaries have risen by 9% due to a shortage of workers. Negative social impacts include the Birth Rate in Poland is decreasing because there is a shortage of people in the reproductive age group. Also, In some areas of Wroclaw, a quarter of all doctors and surgeons have migrated meaning that the ones who remain have to deal with more than one operation at a time putting people's lives at risk. Finally, many Polish villages are suffering from rural depopulation due to the number of migrants. It has also caused the breakdown of the traditional family as the older generations are left behind in the country of origin. A positive social impact is that increases in salaries means that the living standards in Poland are a lot better than they used to be.