Integration of Polish post-accession migrants into British society: the impact of education levels and skills

The accession of the A8 countries, including Poland, to the EU in 2004 and the lifting of labour restrictions for workers from the new member countries by the UK, Sweden and Ireland, triggered migratory movements in Europe on an unprecedented scale. The Polish migrants who came to the UK were predominantly young, largely well-educated and often took jobs below their qualifications. Their number reached 916,000 in 2015.

This research seeks to provide a deeper understanding of the processes underlying the integration of the Polish migrants into contemporary Britain. By focusing on the educational and professional backgrounds of migrants it looks at factors affecting institutional and social integration as well as understandings of home and a sense of belonging. It also seeks to understand the migrants' future plans and explores the phenomena of transmigrations and fluidity.

This research uses a mixed-method approach. The findings are based on the results of an online survey (901 respondents) and interviews with 34 participants. Generally Polish migrants integrate well within British society. Well-educated migrants working in professional positions, and migrants of low educational attainment (but working in professional jobs), integrate more fully than well-educated migrants working below their qualifications or migrants of a lower educational background working in non-professional positions. Professional position is important in migration outcomes, and translates into a sense of belonging and feeling at home in the UK. Proficiency in English is also of paramount importance.

A minority of study participants have definite plans to settle in the UK. A significant proportion makes a decision to stay, migrate further or return to Poland, depending on career opportunities. Polish migrants largely live transnational lives. Their attitudes towards migration and naturalization are pragmatically driven.