Casestudy: Eastern European Migration + Migrants
by A little piece that outlines a casestudy to do with a level geography, in this example you can see how migration into the Uk from eastern european countries has affected it. There is also where Uk residents are migrating away (in this case to spain) where we can again see benefits and problems for both the source and host country.
Casestudy:
Eastern European Countries:
Over the past decade tens of thousands of eastern European citizens have been migrating to the UK; mainly as economical migrants. The biggest source country of the migrants is Poland, 25% of the 120,000 (30,000) eastern European migrants between 2004 and 2006 were Polish.
There are two different types of migrants: seasonal agricultural workers (SAWs), these are migrants who’s numbers usually peak in early summer time when the fruit harvest is at its height; whereas others have a longer-term plan, to settle into an area and get a full time job. However, there are problems related to this issue which impact on the host country, such as:
· Discrimination and distrust from the local people.
· Variable migrant skill levels, with demands for training, mainly in English.
· High rents, as housing is in short supply in the UK.
· Poor access to education and health, often as a result of the language barrier.
· Pressure on accident and emergency services, as few migrants register with a GP.
· Migrants can keep wages low for the surrounding community.
Yet, migrants do bring in benefits for the host country as well, including:
· They’ve helped significantly in the construction, hospitality and agriculture.
· There is a mass reduction in unemployment throughout the country, varies between 4.5-5.5% (one of the lowest in the world).
· They bring in skills for the local community and the whole country.
· The economy booms as the migrants buy products, pay taxes etc.
· Reducing greying population, many of them younger workers (80% under 35).
Hammersmith, London
An example of where this has happened can be found Hammersmith, London. Since 2004 this area has swelled up with 1,500 migrants arriving in the UK everyday and many ending up in the capital. A lot of them find jobs as plumbers, builders, hotel receptionists, cleaners, maids and waiters; even though many of them have university degrees, the wages are still higher than they are in Poland. Yet, finding a job in London isn’t as easy as it sounds with the language barrier etc.
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