TY - JOUR
TI - Beyond Initial Boundaries: Two Decades of Polish Young Adult Migrants’ Labour Market Positionalities in the UK Post-EU Enlargement
AU - Czeranowska, Olga
AU - Grabowska, Izabela
AU - Wermińska-Wiśnicka, Iga
TI - Beyond Initial Boundaries: Two Decades of Polish Young Adult Migrants’ Labour Market Positionalities in the UK Post-EU Enlargement
AB - Since the 2004 European Union enlargement, the United Kingdom has seen a significant influx of Polish migrants, many of whom initially found employment in low-skilled roles due to their immediate availability and low entry barriers. This study explores the career changes of young adult Polish migrants in the UK over the past two decades. Using data from British public statistics – the Annual Population Survey (APS) and in-depth interviews – we comprehensively analyse their labour market positionalities in the UK. Our findings reveal a shift from initial deskilling and confinement to the secondary labour market to diverse, upwardly mobile career changes. This study emphasises the critical role of practical skills, work ethics, experience, and social networks in migrants’ professional development. This research contributes to the broader discourse on post-EU enlargement of Central and Eastern European migration, providing a nuanced understanding of young adult Polish migrants’ labour market experiences in the UK.
VL - 2025 (LI)
IS - Nr 2 (196)
PY - 2025
SN - 2081-4488
C1 - 2544-4972
SP - 7
EP - 29
DO - 10.4467/25444972SMPP.24.025.20741
UR - https://ejournals.eu/czasopismo/smpp/artykul/beyond-initial-boundaries-two-decades-of-polish-young-adult-migrants-labour-market-positionalities-in-the-uk-post-eu-enlargement
KW - Polish young adult migrants
KW - UK labour market
KW - May 2004 EU enlargement
KW - labour
market positionalities
KW - career changes