UK losing popularity among Polish seasonal job seekers

The UK’s sharp drop in popularity as a work destination among Poles is the result of Britain's impending exit from the European Union, which has led to a decline in the exchange rate of the British pound, said Maciej Witucki, head of Work Service.

“You could say that Poles working abroad prefer to earn in euros rather than in pounds,” he added.

Germany and the Netherlands are among the most attractive work destinations for Poles seeking seasonal employment.

Three out of 10 potential economic migrants would choose Germany, more than twice as many as last year, the poll found. Fifteen percent would opt for the Netherlands, Work Service said.

Around 62,000 Poles took up jobs in the UK last year, according to Britain’s Office for National Statistics. The figure was a third lower than in 2016, while one in 20 migrants from Central and Eastern Europe have since left the UK.

There were 2.52 million Poles living abroad in 2016, with a third of them based in the UK and a fifth living in Germany, according to Poland's Central Statistical Office (GUS). (aba/gs)

Source: Rzeczpospolita