Introduction
Migration refers to the movement of people from their usual habitat to new environments. Migration could be internal, in which case people migrate within the same locality, such as a region or country[1], or international, which entails the movement of people from one country to another. Pull and push factors are the forces that compel individuals to abandon their old habitats or trigger them to relocate to new environments. These could be political, economic, environmental, or culturally induced.[2] There has been a growing trend in the number of international immigrants over the past few decades, with estimates by the United Nations showing that by 201,3 the global migration stock stood at 232 million.[3] The premise of this essay is to examine the migration of the Poles into the UK in recent years as an example of international migration and how this migration has been beneficial to the economy.
The Poles have had a well-documented presence in the UK, which can be traced as far back as the 1951 UK census, in which some 152,000 individuals born in Poland were recorded as living in the UK. This was largely attributed to the effects of World War Two when they fled their home country. After the war, many decided to either become residents of the UK or relocate, as opposed to moving back to Poland. While events such as the Polish Martial Law and social unrest led to more Poles migrating to the UK, the post-war group was equally ageing, and some of them had died, and by 2001, the number of Poles in the UK had reduced to 58,000.[4] However, after Poland joined the EU (European Union) in 2004, there was an unprecedented rise in the number of Poles moving to the UK, buoyed by the promise of a better economic life. Consequently, by 2011, the combined number of Poles who were born or had migrated to the UK had increased to 676,000. In the years that followed, a higher number of Poles found the UK appealing as an immigration destination.
The majority of the newly arrived Poles in the UK found gainful employment in key sectors of the UK economy, and in particular, manufacturing, hospitality, health, distribution, public utilities, and transport.[5] In terms of the push and pull factors that triggered the Poles to migrate to the UK, the promise of job opportunities in the UK and high levels of unemployment in their homeland both played a leading role in influencing this migration. On the surface, this seems like the only cause of the migration. However, a careful look at the post-2004 migrations, along with their political and cultural impact, reveals that various agencies were instrumental in negotiating and managing these migrations as they had their own vested interests in the ensuing movement of people.[6] More importantly, the flow of people was due to a coincidence of socio-demographic aspects, political conditions, and a growing demand for low-skilled workers in the UK.
By finding gainful employment in various sectors of the UK economy, Poles are actually contributing towards the UK economy by, among other things, paying taxes. As a matter of fact, immigrants from EU member countries like Poland to the UK end up paying more taxes compared to the benefits than they receive for the work they do. This is beneficial to the UK economy as it helps to relieve UK citizens of the burden of having to finance public services through their income.
Polish immigrants to the UK have also added to the UK labour force. The majority of the migrants tend to be of working age, and this leads to a reduction in the dependency ratio owing to the rise in the labour force. A 2011 Labour Force Survey has revealed that the Polish population in the UK is relatively young. In this case, 57.3 percent of the population were categorized as youths (that is, between 20 and 34 years). This population is more likely to be in search of employment. Consequently, the output capacity of the UK economy has increased due to the contributions made by Polish immigrants.[7] Net inflows of Poles in the UK economy have resulted in a rise in aggregate demand. The contribution to the UK economy has seen the country’s total spending increase. This increased spending in the economy has had a resultant rise in labour supply and, consequently, a rise in real GDP.
Net migration of Poles was also instrumental in the development of a relatively flexible labour market. Polish migrants found the UK an appealing place to move to as there were job vacancies in semi-skilled labour, like plumbing and building. Consequently, their movement was instrumental in fulfilling the demand for these skills. Polish migrants have also helped to plug gaps that exist in the construction, hospitality, and agricultural sectors of the UK labour market, thereby helping to sustain service delivery in these key sectors of the economy. On the other hand, Polish immigrants have also brought disadvantages to the UK economy. For example, some of the immigrants have come with dependents to the UK. Dependents such as children need an education, and this puts a strain on the country's educational resources.[8] Also, the UK government has to cater to the child benefits of immigrants' children. From a social context, there has been a growing resentment against immigrants in certain localities, as they are accused of having taken over the jobs of locals. Additionally, medical and dental services in areas densely populated by immigrants are unable to meet their demands.
Conclusion
In sum, international migration is due to push and pull factors that may be economically, culturally, politically, or environmentally driven. In the case of Polish immigrants to the UK, this movement was largely triggered by Poland's joining the EU in 2004. At the time, unemployment in Poland was high, while the UK needed low-skilled labourers such as builders and plumbers. Their migration helped to seal unemployment gaps in various sectors of the economy. They also brought about flexibility to the job market, in addition to helping to sustain public service delivery. However, the Polish dependents have added a strain to public resources meant for public institutions such as schools and healthcare.
Bibliography
Office for National Statistics 2014. Migration statistics first-time user guide, glossary, and list of products.
Okolski, M., and Salt, J. Polish Emigration to the UK After 2004; Why Did So Many Come?
Leonore Loeb Adle and Uwe Peter Gielen, Migration: Immigration and Emigration in International Perspective (Greenwood Publishing Group, 2003), 3.
OECD, The Future of International Migration to OECD Countries (OECD Publishing 2009) 17.
University College London 2014. Positive economic impact of UK immigration from the European Union: new evidence.
[1] Leonore Loeb Adler, and Uwe Peter Gielen, Migration: Immigration and Emigration in International Perspective (Greenwood Publishing Group, 200,3) 3.
[2] OECD, The Future of International Migration to OECD Countries (OECD Publishing 2009) 17.
[3] United Nations,’ International Migration Report 2013’
[4] Okolski, M., and Salt, J. 2014. Polish Emigration to the UK After 2004; Why Did So Many Come?
[5] Office for National Statistics 2014. Migration statistifirst-timeime user guide, glossary, and list of products.
[6] University College London 2014. Positive economic impact of UK immigration from the European Union: new evidence.
[7] Office for National Statistics 2014. Migration statisticsfirst-timee user guide, glossary, and list of products.
[8] University College London 2014. Positive economic impact of UK immigration from the European Union: new evidence.
