H Geography - Human - Population - Causes of Voluntary Migration

What is your case study for voluntary migration?

My case study for voluntary migration is from Poland to the UK

What are the two factors for voluntary migration?

The two factors for voluntary migration are push factors and pull factors

What are the push factors for Poland to the UK?

• Not enough jobs with very few opportunities. Until 2019 the unemployment rate in Poland was high

• Low paying jobs resulted in a low standard of living. 17% of the population lived below the poverty line

• State benefits are very low compared to Scotland and the UK

• Due to increased mechanisation of farms rural unemployment has risen.

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• High unemployment in Poland (average of 18.5% in 2005) which encouraged people to move away to find jobs. In particular, high levels of youth unemployment (around 40%) meant a lack of prospects for young workers in Poland.

• The GDP in Poland was £12,700 per capita, reflecting poverty and low wages. Many traditional jobs are in farming but in rural areas where there are unemployment rates of 40%, machinery has taken over jobs that were traditionally done by labourers.

• 17% of the population are below the poverty line, reflecting a poor standard of living with poor quality of housing, health care and education.

High unemployment - Voluntary migration

• High unemployment in Poland (average of 18.5% in 2005) which encouraged people to move away to find jobs. In particular, high levels of youth unemployment (around 40%) meant a lack of prospects for young workers in Poland.

GDP in Poland - Voluntary migration

• The GDP in Poland was £12,700 per capita, reflecting poverty and low wages. Many traditional jobs are in farming but in rural areas where there are unemployment rates of 40%, machinery has taken over jobs that were traditionally done by labourers.

Poverty line - Voluntary migration

• 17% of the population are below the poverty line, reflecting a poor standard of living with poor quality of housing, health care and education.

What are the pull factors for Poland to the UK?

• Until 2020 unlimited migration within the EU allowed Polish migrants to move freely

• The exchange rate meant that the sterling conversion into zloty was favourable and meant that people could send money back to family members in Poland

• There were plenty of available jobs in parts of the economy in Scotland, such as in construction

• Employers advertised vacancies in Poland for jobs in Scotland

• Healthcare in Scotland is free at the point of delivery.

• The UK had better quality housing and education

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• Low unemployment in the UK (around 5.1%) so Polish workers expect to find work and plentiful jobs, such as construction. The UK had a high demand for skilled and semi-skilled workers that it could not fill from it’s own population so Polish immigrants filled the demand.

• The GDP in the UK was £30,900 per capita, so Polish workers benefit from the prospects of wealth and higher wages. The exchange rate also meant that the sterling conversion into zloty was favourable and meant that people could send money back to family members in Poland. The UK was one of only three countries who did not restrict the number of Polish immigrants who could migrate without restrictions.

• The UK offers a better standard of living. For example, good quality housing, good quality education available to the children of immigrants, and good quality free healthcare.

Low unemployment - Voluntary migration

• Low unemployment in the UK (around 5.1%) so Polish workers expect to find work and plentiful jobs. The UK had a high demand for skilled and semi-skilled workers that it could not fill from it’s own population so Polish immigrants filled the demand.

GDP in the UK - Voluntary migration

• The GDP in the UK was £30,900 per capita, so Polish workers benefit from the prospects of wealth and higher wages. The UK was one of only three countries who did not restrict the number of Polish immigrants who could migrate without restrictions.

Standard of living - Voluntary migration

• The UK offers a better standard of living. For example, good quality housing, good quality education available to the children of immigrants, and good quality free healthcare.