According to the Department for Work and Pensions; on 2008 figures, a third of Polish migrants who came before 2006 were employed in administration business and management, 22% in hospitality and catering, 10% in agriculture, 8% in manufacturing, 6% in the health service, 5% in food processing, another 5% in the retail trade and the same amount in the constructions industry. Around 95% of male eastern European migrants and 80% of females got work as soon as they arrived in the country.

http://polishexpress.polacy.co.uk/art,poles_are_not_leaving_the_uk,650.html

As Poles migrated to the UK after the war, relatively few managed to have their professional qualifications recognised in the new country and so more went into manual trades.

Social groups and businesses formed and some 50 years later the existence of some of these has been an undoubted help to the new wave of Polish migrants wanting to set up home in this country.

The constant theme from those arguing the case for more Eastern European workers to come to the UK is that these workers will take work that has been rejected by British workers.

For example when Tesco wanted 140 new lorry drivers it took to hiring Poles because of the shortage of British applicants. Also, Aberdeen City Council hired from Eastern Europe because of the shortage of bricklayers, plumbers, joiners and electricians amongst the indigenous population. Fruit pickers in the country have also recruited largely from Eastern Europe, again because of the shortage of British workers wanting to do the work.