economic migrations of the poles

ECONOMIC
MIGRATIONS
OF THE POLES
Report by Work Service S.A.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
THE REPORT IN NUMBERS
PREFERRED COUNTRIES OF EMIGRATION THOSE CONSIDERING ECONOMIC EMIGRATION REASONS FOR EMIGRATION
BARRIERS TO EMIGRATION INFLUENCE OF GEOPOLITICAL SITUATION
SURVEY METHODOLOGY
3
4
5
6
10
11
12
13
Ladies and Gentlemen,
we are presenting the results of another edition of the survey on Poles readiness to economic emigration in the next 12
months. Every six months, we are checking the willingness to work outside the borders of our country, analysing the
preferred direction of departures and the main reasons leading people to take such a decision.
The survey results show that the percentage of those who are considering economic emigration remains at a constant level.
Just like last year, every fifth respondent allows for the possibility to leave the country in search of work. Close to 6.4%
of the economically active Poles (nearly 1.275 million vs 1.025 million in 2014) is definitely planning to emigrate. This
is about 250 thousand more people than last year, when the percentage of those determined to leave was 5%. Young
people, under 35 years of age, who represent 65% of all persons considering emigration, are still most interested in
departure. Emigration seems to be more often contemplated alternative for people in financial difficulties, including those
unemployed, low-paid, or with no education. A reference of survey results to the map of Poland further confirms our belief
that the higher unemployment in the region, the more frequent the plans for finding work abroad are. This is clear evidence
of Poles’ lack of faith in the possibility of change and finding a good job in our country.
Poles still would preferably go to the countries of the European Union. This is probably supported by the ease of taking
legal employment there. Among the most preferred directions of emigration are: Great Britain, Germany, Norway and the
Netherlands. The number of Polish workers in the UK and Germany for several years has been steadily growing. Despite
this, interest in the departures to those countries is maintained at a constant high level. This proves, on the one hand, that
the local markets are not saturated with essential workers from abroad, and on the other hand - the positive evaluation
of career development prospects for the Poles. Decisive increase in popularity of Norway this year may be due to better
and better communication of that country with Poland and access to the broad social benefits at a relatively high income.
Due to the difficult geopolitical situation, as well as the continuing conflict behind our eastern border, the Poles begin
to consider leaving the country to more stable and secure regions. Our report shows that as many as 1/3 of the respondents
allows for the possibility of emigration in the future due to the conflict in Ukraine.
I invite you to read the report.
Tomasz Hanczarek
President Work Service S.A. Management Board
THE REPORT IN NUMBERS
1.
Every fifth active or potential participant in the Polish labour market is
considering economic emigration
2.
The profile of potential emigrant:
• 63% are young people - under 35 years of age
• 29% are people during education or studying
• 31% people with secondary education
• 36% are from the cities up to 100 thousand residents of the eastern,
southern and central regions
• 35% represent rural residents
• 63% are men
3.
The main reason for departure - for 78% of Poles - higher earnings
4.
The main emigration barrier - 3/4 of respondents indicated attachment to
family and friends
5.
Great Britain (27%), Germany (26%), Norway (11%) and the
Netherlands (9%) are the most preferred directions of emigration
6.
1/3 of Poles claim that the conflict in Ukraine may in the future affect their
decision to emigrate
4
ECONOMIC MIGRATIONS OF THE POLES Report by Work Service S.A.
PREFERRED COUNTRIES OF EMIGRATION
The European Union countries strongly dominated (72%) among the preferred
directions of emigration mentioned by the respondents. The most often mentioned
ones are: Great Britain (27%), Germany (26%), Norway (11%) and the
Netherlands (9%).
Strong interest of Poles in emigration to Great Britain and Germany remains
unchanged for several years. What is interesting, compared to the previous edition
of the survey, the number of indications of Norway as the preferred direction
of emigration increased by 5 percentage points. Thus, Norway is the third most
popular destination among Poles considering leaving the country this year. This is
a particularly attractive destination for residents of the northern Poland. There are
already 10 flight connections from Gdansk to the cities in Norway that guarantee
faster transport than road connection with quite a few Polish cities. Easy contact
with the homeland, as well as a broad social coverage and high wages provide
an additional incentive to emigrate. At the same time much less people than
last year, is considering leaving to the Netherlands. In 2014, as many as 23%
persons indicated the Netherlands as the preferred destination, compared to 9%
this year. This change has both market and political basis. Poles thinking of
emigrating to the Netherlands are more likely choose Germany now, mainly due
to the geographical proximity and the introduction of the minimum wage. Last
year appeared in the Netherlands negative opinions on the employment of Polish
immigrants who were to take over the employment of local specialists. Therefore,
there were propositions to limit the access of Polish people to the Dutch labour
market. These messages also reached Poland, which could lead to a decrease of
interest in emigration to the Netherlands.
To which country you are considering to emigrate for work?
GREAT BRITAIN
27%
GERMANY
26%
NORWAY
11%
NETHERLANDS
9%
AUSTRIA
4%
AUSTRALIA
3%
SWEDEN
2%
DENMARK
2%
CANADA
1%
IRELAND
1%
ITALY
1%
USA
1%
FINLAND
1%
OTHER
3%
5
ECONOMIC MIGRATIONS OF THE POLES Report by Work Service S.A.
THOSE CONSIDERING ECONOMIC EMIGRATION
Do you consider emigration for work in the next 12 months?
2,4 %
53,6 %
DEFINITELY NOT
I DON’T KNOW
/HARD TO SAY
6,4 %
DEFINITELY YES
14,3 %
RATHER YES
23,3 %
RATHER NOT
Compared to last year’s survey, emigration plans of Poles have not changed. Still, every fifth active or potential participant in the labour market in Poland, is considering
seeking work abroad in the next 12 months. The number of people who definitely are considering such a departure has slightly increased (6.4% compared to 5% in
2014.). This means that already 1.25 million economically active Poles is seriously thinking about leaving the country, which represents an increase compared to last
year by 250 thousand people.
6
ECONOMIC MIGRATIONS OF THE POLES Report by Work Service S.A.
THOSE CONSIDERING ECONOMIC EMIGRATION
AGE
18 TO 24 YEARS
32%
25 TO 34 YEARS
31%
35 TO 44 YEARS
18%
OVER 45 YEARS
19%
OVER 60 YEARS
0%
63%
37%
EDUCATION
PRIMARY
27%
VOCATIONAL
23%
SECONDARY
31%
HIGHER
19%
50%
50%
GENDER
MAN
63%
WOMAN
37%
Men more often are considering emigration than women. As many as 63% of respondents thinking of going abroad are persons under 35 years of age. Compared
to the previous edition of the survey, this means a decrease of 12 percentage points. In turn, from 26% to 37% increased the percentage of those who are considering
emigration at the age of 35+. People with higher education are least likely to think about economic emigration, while those having secondary and basic education think
about it most often.
7
ECONOMIC MIGRATIONS OF THE POLES Report by Work Service S.A.
THOSE CONSIDERING ECONOMIC EMIGRATION
Among those considering economic emigration, there are usually the learners
(29%) and people employed full-time (25%). What is interesting, only 19%
of the unemployed and 11% of self-employed persons considers emigrating
for work. Clear determiner influencing the emigration planning is the amount of
remuneration. Persons deprived of any personal income accounts for 50% of
those considering leaving the country, and 31% are the people working and
employed at the minimum wage rate. Poles earning over PLN 3 thousand represent
only 8% of people declaring their intention to seek employment outside Poland.
People considering emigration often come from rural areas or cities up to 100
thousand residents. As many as 36% are the residents of villages, 36% - of
small towns, and 16% - of medium and large cities. Among those who allow the
possibility of leaving the country, only 12% are the residents of the metropolis.
The regions of Poland where residents are most frequently considering emigration
are still central, southern and eastern regions. According to CSO data, in February
2015 the highest number of unemployed was registered in these provinces.
SOUTHERN
11%
NORTH
-WESTERN
14%
CENTRAL
20%
SOUTH
-WESTERN
10%
EASTERN
18%
SOUTHERN
27%
FORMS OF EMPLOYMENT
FULL TIME
25%
PART-TIME/MANDATE/ORDER
15%
SELF-EMPLOYED
11%
DOES NOT WORK – LEARNING, STUDIES
29%
DOES NOT WORK – UNEMPLOYED
19%
DOES NOT WORK –PARENTAL, MATERNITY LEAVE
1%
MONTHLY NET INCOME OF RESPONDENT
8
ECONOMIC MIGRATIONS OF THE POLES Report by Work Service S.A.
LESS THAN PLN 2000
31%
PLN 2000 - 2999
11%
PLN 3000 AND MORE
8%
REFUSED TO ANSWER
50%
51%
49%
9
ECONOMIC MIGRATIONS OF THE POLES Report by Work Service S.A.
REASONS FOR EMIGRATION
Please indicate the reasons that primarily lead you to emigration?
HIGHER WAGES THAN IN POLAND
78%
HIGHER STANDARD OF LIVING
44%
LACK OF SUITABLE WORK IN POLAND
37%
BETTER PROSPECTS FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
37%
THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL AND EXPLORE THE WORLD
35%
BETTER HEALTH CARE
29%
BETTER SOCIAL CONDITIONS
19%
FAMILY / RELATIVES LIVING OR INTENDING TO LIVE ABROAD
9%
OTHER
1%
The most common motivator for Poles to emigrate is primarily the ability to raise the the amount of remuneration. Subsequently the factors associated with the comfort of
living and social security are indicated.
The most important reason indicated by 78% of respondents is therefore higher wages. For 44% of people raising the standard of living is the motivator to leave the
country. 37% declared that lack of suitable work in Poland leads them to emigrate and the same number of respondents indicated a greater career prospects abroad.
Poles are also motivated to seek employment abroad by a chance to explore the world and travelling (35%), better health care (29%), and better social conditions
(19%).
10
ECONOMIC MIGRATIONS OF THE POLES Report by Work Service S.A.
BARRIERS TO EMIGRATION
Which barriers(predominantly), keep you from going abroad to work?
ATTACHMENT TO FAMILY AND FRIEND IN POLAND
74%
ATTRACTIVE WORK IN THE COUNTRY
33%
LACK OF LANGUAGE SKILLS
28%
LACK OF SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO GO ABROAD AND SETTLE DOWN
15%
LACK OF RELEVANT QUALIFICATIONS TO WORK ABROAD
13%
SMALL CHANCES TO FIND ATTRACTIVE JOB
13%
TOO LARGE CULTURAL DIFFERENCES AND THE MENTALITY OF THE PEOPLE ABROAD
12%
HEALTH PROBLEMS
11%
OTHER
6%
I DON’T KNOW
2%
The biggest barrier for going abroad is attachment to family and friends (74%). Having a good job and lack of knowledge of foreign languages are indicated as
another factors. Lack of money to go abroad and settle down is also important, which declares 15% of Poles.
Compared to the results from the previous edition of the survey, family factors have become more important - the percentage of indications to attachment to family and
friends increased about 7 pp, and also occupational factors - the importance of a good job in the country increased by 3 percentage points.
11
ECONOMIC MIGRATIONS OF THE POLES Report by Work Service S.A.
INFLUENCE OF GEOPOLITICAL SITUATION
Does the conflict in Ukraine effect or will affect your decision to leave to work abroad?
32,0 %
FOR NOW IT DOES NOT BUT
MAY EFFECT IT IN THE FUTURE
3,5 %
IT HAS AN EFFECT ALREADY
2,5 %
I DON’T KNOW/HARD TO SAY
62,0%
HAVE NO EFFECT AND WILL
NOT HAVE IT IN THE FUTURE
The geopolitical situation on our eastern border may also affect the Polish labour market. The study shows that the conflict in Ukraine may determine the decision
to emigrate of 32% of the economically active Poles. Currently, it already effects the decision of 3.5% of respondents. However, the majority of respondents do not base
their choice for emigration or stay in Poland on the conflict in Ukraine. This group included both people planning to emigrate, as well as planning to stay in the country.
12
ECONOMIC MIGRATIONS OF THE POLES Report by Work Service S.A.
SURVEY METHODOLOGY
The survey was carried out on a sample of N = 633 persons employed,
unemployed, learners and on those maternity and parental leave. The sample
was selected from a nationwide representative sample of adult Poles N = 1000
(consistent with the structure of the population in terms of gender, age, education,
and class size and province of residence). Retirees, pensioners and home
carers were excluded. The results were weighted on the basis of the structure
of recruitment variable, acc. to CSO data. The accuracy of the results depends
on the number of group under examination and response rates. The maximum
measurement error for the entire sample of N=633 is +/-3.96%. The survey was
conducted using computer-assisted telephone interviews under CATIBUS project.
Data presented in the Economic Migrations of Poles report have been
prepared and developed on the order of Work Service S.A. by Millward
Brown institute S.A.
The survey was conducted in the period 6-9.03.2015.
13
ECONOMIC MIGRATIONS OF THE POLES Report by Work Service S.A.
MORE INFORMATION :
Krzysztof Inglot
Representative of Management Board
of Work Service S.A.
M: 508 040 345
E: [email protected]
Andrzej Kubisiak
Head of Press Office
of Work Service S.A.
M: 512 176 030
E: [email protected]