CRONEM
Centre for Research on Nationalism,
Ethnicity and Multiculturalism
University of Surrey
Guildford
Surrey GU2 7XH
Polish migrants survey results
Commissioned by the BBC Newsnight
Key findings:
�� Polish migrants demonstrate a highly complex set of migratory patterns reflecting the growing fluidity and ease of mobility within the European labour market. As shown below, migration patterns can be divided into three broad, numerically equal categories: seasonal migrants, long term settlers and undecided.
�� 22% of the respondents identified themselves as seasonal migrants and almost a third of respondents stated that they intended to stay less than two years in the UK. Seasonal workers and short term migrants tend to be young (aged below 24 years), with lower levels of education, are concentrated in big cities like London and work in construction or hospitality/catering industries.
�� However, around 30% do not know how long they will stay in the UK. This indicates that a relatively high proportion of recent migrants are adopting a ‘wait and see’ approach to the duration of their stay. Those aged between 24 and 34 were most likely to be found in this category. The remaining respondents were split relatively equally between staying 2-5 years, over 5 years and permanently.
�� 15% of respondents said they wanted to stay in the UK permanently.
�� 30% of respondents said that they intend to bring their families and children over or that their families are already in the UK. The highest
proportion was among the 35-45 age groups, followed by those in the 24-35 groups. However, a relatively high percentage (28%) did not answer the question but of those who did, just under 60% said that they do not intend to do bring their families over. Education or sector of employment does not seem to play a decisive role here.
�� Financial reasons and unemployment in Poland is the main factor driving people to migrate to the UK (mentioned by almost 60% of respondents). However, younger respondents and those with higher levels of education are more likely to stress non-financial motives like “easier to live in the UK” and “personal or professional development”.
�� Polish migrants are very happy with their reception by the British public. 90% of surveyed say that they have been received ‘well’ or ‘very well’ with only 10% stating that they have been received ‘badly’ or ‘very badly’. Those in the latter two categories were more likely to be older and male.
�� 64% of respondents declared that they had registered on the Workers Registration Scheme. People living in smaller towns were more likely to have registered, as were older workers and those intending to stay in the UK for longer periods.