Push and Pull factors that have encourages Poles to come to the UK

Push Factors:

• Poland joined the EU in May 2004 giving them the automatic right to come and work in the UK
• Poland has a population over 2/3 the size of the UK but is much poorer with a GDP of just over $500 billion compared with $2.5 trillion in the UK meaning there are fewer job opportunities
• Unemployment levels are over 20% in Poland and job Security for those in work is poor
• There are many graduates in Poland but very high skilled jobs for them to go into

Pull Factors

• The UK has an abundance of low paid work which many hard working Polish people are willing to come over and do
• The benefits system in the UK means people are sometimes happier to claim than work meaning that there are jobs available for Poles prepared to work for relatively low pay
• The UK is close to Poland and there are very good transport links
• Average pay in the UK is significantly higher than in Poland
• The UK has the NHS and a generous benefits system compared to most other EU countries
• There is some affinity between the two countries given that were allies in the war and there is already a Polish community established in the UK after WW2.