One third of Poles want to emigrate to find work

A study by a respected Polish institute has reveled that 33 per cent of Poles would prefer to emigrate to other European countries including the UK in order to find work.

The study, released by Warsaw’s Homo Homini Institute, reveals that numbers wanting to emigrate have doubled over the past year, and are edging towards the 300,000 mark. Popular destinations include the UK, Sweden and Germany, with most would-be migrants planning to send for their wives and children once they are settled.

The UK has welcomed a large number of Polish workers since 2004, with the trend looking to continue for the immediate future in spite of growing anger in the British workforce against uncontrolled immigration. According to population expert Prof Krystina Iglicka, over a million recent migrants are now deciding to make permanent homes in their new countries.

A recent survey of Polish workers in the UK noted that, although they are more likely to be in work than their British counterparts, pay and working conditions are below standard. A 2007 release of official figures showed that four out of every five new jobs were being given to migrants, mostly from Eastern Europe.