Beyond Initial Boundaries: Two Decades of Polish Young Adult Migrants’ Labour Market Positionalities in the UK Post-EU Enlargement

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cris.lastimport.scopus2025-08-31T03:11:53Z
dc.abstract.enSince the 2004 European Union enlargement, the United Kingdom has seen a significant influx of Polish migrants, many of whom initially found employment in low-skilled roles due to their immediate availability and low entry barriers. This study explores the career changes of young adult Polish migrants in the UK over the past two decades. Using data from British public statistics – the Annual Population Survey (APS) and in-depth interviews – we comprehensively analyse their labour market positionalities in the UK. Our findings reveal a shift from initial deskilling and confinement to the secondary labour market to diverse, upwardly mobile career changes. This study emphasises the critical role of practical skills, work ethics, experience, and social networks in migrants’ professional development. This research contributes to the broader discourse on post-EU enlargement of Central and Eastern European migration, providing a nuanced understanding of young adult Polish migrants’ labour market experiences in the UK.
dc.affiliationWydział Nauk Społecznych/ Instytut Nauk Społecznych
dc.affiliationWydział Nauk Społecznych w Warszawie
dc.affiliationInstytut Nauk Społecznych
dc.contributor.authorCzeranowska, Olga
dc.contributor.authorGrabowska, Izabela
dc.contributor.authorWermińska-Wiśnicka, Iga
dc.date.access2025-04-07
dc.date.accessioned2025-07-22T10:46:52Z
dc.date.available2025-07-22T10:46:52Z
dc.date.created2024-12-29
dc.date.issued2025-04-07
dc.description.abstract<jats:p>Since the 2004 European Union enlargement, the United Kingdom has seen a significant influx of Polish migrants, many of whom initially found employment in low-skilled roles due to their immediate availability and low entry barriers. This study explores the career changes of young adult Polish migrants in the UK over the past two decades. Using data from British public statistics – the Annual Population Survey (APS) and in-depth interviews – we comprehensively analyse their labour market positionalities in the UK. Our findings reveal a shift from initial deskilling and confinement to the secondary labour market to diverse, upwardly mobile career changes. This study emphasises the critical role of practical skills, work ethics, experience, and social networks in migrants’ professional development. This research contributes to the broader discourse on post-EU enlargement of Central and Eastern European migration, providing a nuanced understanding of young adult Polish migrants’ labour market experiences in the UK.</jats:p>
dc.description.accesstimeat_publication
dc.description.grantnumber2017/27/L/HS6/03261
dc.description.granttitleCEEYouth: The comparative study of young migrants from Poland and Lithuania in the context of Brexit
dc.description.issue2(196)
dc.description.physical7-29
dc.description.versionfinal_published
dc.identifier.doi10.4467/25444972SMPP.24.025.20741
dc.identifier.eissn2544-4972
dc.identifier.issn2081-4488
dc.identifier.urihttps://share.swps.edu.pl/handle/swps/1541
dc.identifier.weblinkhttps://ejournals.eu/en/journal/smpp/article/beyond-initial-boundaries-two-decades-of-polish-young-adult-migrants-labour-market-positionalities-in-the-uk-post-eu-enlargement
dc.languageen
dc.pbn.affiliationnauki socjologiczne
dc.rightsCC-BY
dc.rights.questionYes_rights
dc.share.articleOPEN_JOURNAL
dc.subject.enPolish young adult migrants
dc.subject.enUK labour market
dc.subject.enMay 2004 EU enlargement
dc.subject.enlabour market positionalities
dc.subject.encareer changes
dc.swps.sciencecloudsend
dc.titleBeyond Initial Boundaries: Two Decades of Polish Young Adult Migrants’ Labour Market Positionalities in the UK Post-EU Enlargement
dc.title.journalStudia Migracyjne – Przegląd Polonijny
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typeArticle