Poles in Britain. News. Many Poles moved to Britain after 2004, when Poland joined the European Union. At that time, the UK opened its job market to workers from Eastern Europe. One of those workers was Paweł Labaj, who came to Britain in 2005. He started as a cleaner and later worked in a warehouse. Today, after many years of hard work, he is a manager at a company that helps find workers for physical jobs – the same kind of work he used to do himself.
From low wages to higher earnings
After 2004, over half of the workers who came to Britain from the new EU countries were from Poland. Most found work in agriculture, hotels, restaurants, or construction – jobs that didn’t require good English and didn’t pay much. Many Poles also worked as self-employed builders or plumbers.
In 2014, data from the UK tax office showed that Poles in Britain were earning 15% less than people born in the UK. But things have changed. Now, the average wages of working Poles are slightly higher than those of British people.
Why are Poles earning more now?
One big reason is better English skills. The 2021 UK census showed that out of 743,000 people born in Poland, over 600,000 said they speak English well. People like Paweł Labaj actively worked to improve their English – for example, by asking coworkers to help him understand English song lyrics.
Some Poles also returned to the professions they had before coming to the UK. Marta Kalemba, for example, started in a chicken factory but later had her Polish qualifications recognized. Today, she runs her own accounting firm in central England.
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Fewer Poles, higher averages?
Many Poles are now leaving the UK. Since 2017, the number of Poles in the UK has gone down by about 25%. Marta believes that those who succeeded and joined the middle class are staying, while many manual workers have returned to Poland, where wages have increased. Since 2004, Polish salaries have risen from 52% to 71% of British wages, when adjusted for living costs. This could explain why the Poles who remain in Britain now earn more on average.
New rules, fewer newcomers
Since Brexit in 2020, the UK treats EU citizens the same as non-EU citizens. Poles now need work permits and must meet income requirements. In 2023, only about 1,200 Poles received work permits for the UK. This change means fewer new Polish migrants, especially younger ones who usually earn less. In contrast, the Poles who are already in Britain are older, more experienced, and speak better English – which helps explain the higher earnings.
The Polish experience reflects a bigger truth
The Polish story in Britain shows something important: immigrants often start with low-paid jobs, but over time, as they learn the language and gain experience, they move into better positions. With Poles, this change is now very visible – because there are fewer newcomers, it is easier to see their success.