A second wave of Polish migrants are coming to the UK in the belief that the worst of the economic crisis has passed - 6th October 2010

New migration data shows that Polish migrants are coming back to the UK amid hopes that the worst of the economic crisis is over.

Figures from the Migrant Information Source show that the number of Poles in the UK rose from 484,000 at the beginning of the year to 537,000 by the end of June. It follows a period of reverse migration where Poles left to return to their homeland which was the only economy in the EU that did not go into recession in 2009. Now, the trend is once again for Poles to come to the UK, enticed by hopes of an economic recovery and better pay.

The evidence that more Poles are emigrating to the UK will bring hope to those concerned at an impending labour shortage with the 2012 London Olympics building programme thought to have been at some risk.

Professor Ktysyna Iglicka, a migration expert at Warsaw’s Institute for International Affairs, said she was surprised by the size of the increase but said that many had little choice but to return to the UK when conditions allowed.

Although the Polish economy did not slip into recession, unemployment in the country is high, at 11%, which can rise to 20% in the country’s extensive rural backwaters. She said: “I know some people who have come back to Poland and they were very disappointed. The number of jobs available and quality of life is not as good as the UK. They are not very happy."

The National Institute of Economic and Social Research have said that the Polish workforce has contributed a cumulative £12 billion to the economy.