Changing the way you learn

Eastern European Migration

Eight Eastern European member countries joined the EU of May 1st 2004
1. A8 countries
2. Czech Republic
3. Estonia
4. Hungary
5. Latvia
6. Lithuania
7. Poland
8. Slovenia
9. Slovakia
UK guest work force has steadily risen since 2004
1. However slowed down by 2007
  1. Possibly due to the UK credit crunch
8% migrants in Scotland
4% Migrants in Northern Ireland
10% migrants in Northeast England
19% migrants in Northern England
3% migrants in Wales
12% migrants in Midlands
15% of migrants in Eastern England
13% migrants in London
7% migrants in Southeast England
9% migrants in Southwest England
In Tesco there is now an aisle especially for Polish Produce
The EU has an open border policy for trade and people
The Schengen agreement was set up in 1995
Over 200,000 immigrants arrived in the UK in 2004-5
Eastern Europeans get paid on average £6 an hour
In 2005, unemployment in Poland was 18.5% with some rural area's over 40%
UK is not a Schengen member
UKs unemployment rate is only 5.1%
Poland GDP is $12,700
UK GDP is $30,900
£2.54 billion is contributed to the economy annually by Eastern European immigrants in the UK
Migrants have contributed 0.5 to 1% of the UKs economic growth in 2005-6
80% of new migrants are working people between the ages of 18 and 35
The bank of England stated that migration had helped to prevent the rapid rise in oil prices from causing a damaging surge of inflation
Push factors
1. Unemployment
2. Lack of safety
3. Lack of services
4. Poverty
5. Crop failure
6. Drought
7. War/Civil unrest
8. Hazards
9. Isolation
10. Population pressure
11. Poor infrastructure
12. Bad education
13. Poor health care
14. Poor weather
15. Rising crime
Pull factors
1. In 2004, A8 countries were not given the right of free movement except by the UK, Ireland and Sweden
2. The developed economy of the UK is a magnet for migrants seeking work and opportunities
3. A growing, low-unemployed economy
4. Higher education
5. Greater wealth
6. Better standard of living
7. Fertile land
Source Country
1. Benefits
  1. Remittances: Workers send 25% of earnings home - Poland sent home 6.4 million euros in 2006
    1. Unemployment may be reduced
  2. Higher wages, A8 migrants average £6 per house
  3. Skills can be taken back home
  4. Working A8 migrants abroad do not need benefit payments
  5. Less pressure on resources
2. Costs
  1. Loss of work force
  2. Brain drain
  3. Skills shortages
  4. Ageing and reduced fertility
  5. Most migrants are young males creating inbalance
  6. Some workers are exploited
  7. Breaks up families
  8. Economic growth may slow
Host Country
1. Benefits
  1. Skills gaps
  2. Economic turnaround
  3. Business opportunities
  4. Counteracts aging if migrants have children
  5. Multi- cultural society
  6. Reduces wage inflation
2. Costs
  1. Social/Cultural tensions
  2. A rise in low-level cultural unfamiliarity
  3. Downward pressure of wages
  4. Pressure on local schools and NHS
  5. Reduces wages for domestic workers
  6. Low skilled migrants need training
  7. Increased population density and higher pollution levels

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Eastern European Migration

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	Created by Jodie Goodacre over 11 years ago