The document summarizes the migration of Eastern Europeans to the UK following the EU expansion in 2004. It states that over 600,000 people from the new EU countries had migrated to the UK by 2006, exceeding initial predictions of 15,000 migrants per year. The majority of these migrants came from Poland and Slovakia and found work in a variety of industries and locations throughout the UK. This influx contributed both economic and demographic impacts, with increases in births and in the working population, but also concerns about impacts on wages and community relations.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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)

6. 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%.

7. Positive impacts on the UK Negative impacts on the UK
On average, Eastern European worker in the UK work It has been claimed that the migration has had a
4 hours a week longer than UK born workers negative impact on wages for the worst paid workers
in the UK
Three-quarters of EU migrants to the UK in 2007 Young people – especially students may find it harder
were aged 16 to 39 so are economically active so to get part time jobs as employers may prefer to
may help to diffuse the ‘pension time bomb’ employ migrant workers with existing skills
Many Eastern Europeans do low paid manual work It has been claimed that immigration has harmed
such as fruit picking which many British workers community relations with anxiety over issues such as
refuse to do. pressure on public services
Migrant have contributed an estimated £2.5 billion A high proportion of wages are returned ‘home’ so
to the UK economy are not spent in the UK
Very few Eastern European migrants claim state Exploitation of workers through low wages, long
benefits (only 2.4%) hours and poor health and safety standards.