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Migrants to UK 'returning home' | Migrants to UK 'returning home' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Many economic migrants from central and eastern Europe who came to work in the UK are returning home because of the recession, a report suggests. | Many economic migrants from central and eastern Europe who came to work in the UK are returning home because of the recession, a report suggests. |
The global Migration Policy Institute (MPI) study, commissioned by the BBC, says EU expansion led to 1.3m east Europeans moving to the UK up to 2008. | |
But the recession in Britain and modest economic growth in Poland have led to a change in this pattern, it found. | But the recession in Britain and modest economic growth in Poland have led to a change in this pattern, it found. |
The MPI report suggests almost half of those migrants have now left. | The MPI report suggests almost half of those migrants have now left. |
The report explained in graphics | The report explained in graphics |
It also says that migration from Poland in particular is now temporary and circular in nature, with people constantly coming and going. | It also says that migration from Poland in particular is now temporary and circular in nature, with people constantly coming and going. |
The weak local currencies had previously made the UK an attractive destination. | The weak local currencies had previously made the UK an attractive destination. |
However, if the UK's economy picks up, the flow of migrants could change again, the report says. | However, if the UK's economy picks up, the flow of migrants could change again, the report says. |
Recent figures from the the Office for National Statistics suggested that 118,000 more people arrived in the UK than left in 2008 - the lowest level since EU enlargement. | |
Global decline | |
Sir Andrew Green of Migrationwatch said migrants from the A8 countries were "only a small part of the picture which, at least for the time being, is getting smaller". | |
The A8 countries are the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia, who all joined the EU in 2004. | |
Sir Andrew said: "Only one in seven foreign born workers in the UK is from the A8, according to the Labour Market Statistics from August 2009. | |
"Furthermore, in the calendar year 2007, the last available, only one in four net migrants was from the A8. | |
"The more recent International Passenger Survey for quarter four in 2008 had only one in 14 net arrivals from the A8." | |
Worldwide, the MPI study says there has been a dramatic global decline in the number of people going to work abroad since the start of the global downturn. | |
There was a large decline in the number of Mexicans moving to the United States, for example. | There was a large decline in the number of Mexicans moving to the United States, for example. |
It also suggested that the level of remittances - money sent by migrants to family members back home - has declined. | It also suggested that the level of remittances - money sent by migrants to family members back home - has declined. |