Migrant workers in the UK are more widely dispersed than ever before according to the latest government statistics.
Immigrants coming to work in the UK from EU accession countries (A8) in May 2004 and December 2006 have settled in London, the East Midlands, the West Midlands, East Anglia and Northern Ireland, statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show.
The ONS has said “traditionally” London, the South East and a relatively small number of large towns and cities took the greatest influx of migrant workers.
However, the analysis, based on more than 500,000 registrations of workers since May 2004 with an accurate employer’s address, saw relatively low ratios of A8 migrant workers to population in Wales and around the Thames estuary.
Earlier this year the TUC claimed the influx of migrant workers to the UK had boosted the economy and was not having an adverse affect on jobs and wages.
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Among A8 nationals, 37% of workers were registered in administration, business and management services sectors (including those employed indirectly, for example, via employment agencies, into other sectors), 19% in hospitality and catering and 11% in agriculture.
Polish workers were the largest group registering between May 2004 and December 2006, accounting for 64% of the A8 total.
