Kay & Trevena (2020) 'New' migrations transforming the city: East European settlement in Glasgow in Madgin & Kintrea (eds.) Transforming Glasgow.

Overview of East European Migration to Glasgow

• Contemporary migration is reshaping cities, highlighting economic and technological demands for migrant labor (Kay & Trevena).

• Increased international migration since the 1980s has diversified origins and characteristics of migrants, resulting in multicultural urban societies and super-diversity.

Economic Context

• Post-1980s neoliberal reforms led to flexible employment in sectors requiring low-skilled labor.

• Expansion of the service sector in global cities creates demand for cheap labor, leading local populations to seek better job security elsewhere.

• Low-skilled jobs became unattractive to locals, creating vacancies increasingly filled by migrants.

Glasgow's Transformation

• Glasgow transitioned from a city of emigration to a destination for migrants, especially from Eastern Europe post-2004 EU expansion.

• Migrants primarily worked in service and manufacturing sectors, often in jobs for which they were overqualified.

Demographics of Migrants

• Study focused on 31 East European migrants in Glasgow (2014-2015): diverse origins including Poland, Lithuania, Czech Republic, etc.

• Majority participated in low-paid, precarious employment, revealing high employment rates but limited upward mobility.

Employment Landscape

• Migrants are often clustered in low-skilled jobs within their communities, limiting language acquisition and social integration.

• Migrants experience workplace segregation, which affects personal networking and occupational mobility.