New report reveals impact of A8 migration and recession on jobs market in Bristol and Hull

Date: 16/03/2009

Centre for Cities has today released a new report that reveals the impact of migration from new European Union countries on job markets in Bristol and Hull -from their accession in 2004 to today's recession. 

With Britain in recession, the tone of the migration debate is changing.  In past years, both migration and job vacancies were high.  Now A8 migration is for the first time taking place in an economic climate of increased competition for fewer jobs: 

• Over the past year, job vacancies across the UK have fallen by 30% to 479,000
• UK unemployment has risen to just below two million, or 6.3%, from 5.2% a year ago
• In January there were 22 people on Jobseeker's Allowance for every job vacancy in Hull and 5 on Jobseeker's Allowance for every vacancy in Bristol

Until now popular debate has focused on whether A8 migrants are ‘taking' British jobs and when we are likely to see a mass exodus of migrant workers from the UK.  This report on Bristol and Hull sheds light on both issues:

Are A8 migrants going home?

So far, neither Hull nor Bristol has reported a mass exodus of migrant workers.  In Bristol, more A8 migrants appear to be settling longer term into ready established communities:

• 18% of A8 migrants arriving in the city bring their children, partners or both, compared to 14% nationally and 7% in Hull.
• Over one third are uncertain about the length of their stay when they arrive, suggesting a ‘wait and see' approach to their return home.

Migrant workers are employed across Bristol's jobs market in a wide range of sectors including hospitality (22%), manufacturing (7%), construction (5%), retail (6%), health (6%) and transport (6%).

Are A8 migrants ‘taking' British jobs?

Not in cities like Hull, where A8 migrants mostly work in warehouses or processing plants, as packers, mechanics or on production lines for example (76%).

Migrant workers are channelled into these jobs through migrant recruitment agencies. Two parallel job markets have emerged within the city: one dominated by long-term residents, and a second by migrants. Unless these job markets are brought together, the city's economy will be held back over the long term.

However in recession, cities like Bristol, where migrants work across a broad range of sectors, are likely to see more direct competition for jobs between A8 migrants and the local workforce. Bristol City Council and its partners will need to focus hard on keeping Bristol's businesses and jobs to help both long-term and new residents stay in work.

Likewise many of the job opportunities which are currently taken up by migrants in cities like Hull could see interest from long-term city residents.  Hull and East Riding local authorities, alongside Jobcentre Plus will need to work closely with recruitment agencies and address longer-run worklessness barriers - to open up job opportunities to all.

Dermot Finch, Director of the Centre for Cities, said,

"Over the past five years, the UK economy has benefited hugely from A8 migration. Workers from Eastern Europe have filled skills shortages and helped businesses grow. But the recession is now starting to change the dynamic between A8 migrants and local labour markets.

"In cities like Hull and Bristol, unemployment is rising and vacancies are falling - but we are not yet seeing a mass exodus of migrant workers.  A8 migrants and the recently unemployed are now competing for fewer jobs, and previously "hard-to-fill" jobs are now in demand.

"A8 migrants are not all going home. They have a valuable role to play in the UK economy. We need to do more to integrate those that want to stay here, so they can help drive the UK from recession to recovery."

For more information, please contact:

Rosamund Taylor, Acting External Affairs Manager 0207 803 4316
Mobile: 07876 175 426
r.taylor@centreforcities.org

Notes to editors:

The Centre for Cities is an independent urban policy research unit. It is a registered charity (No 1119841) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England (No 6215397). Our main goal is to understand how and why economic growth and change takes place in Britain's cities, and to help cities improve their economic performance.

Accession to Recession: A8 Migration in Bristol and Hull by Catherine Glossop and Faiza Shaheen is available at www.centreforcities.org/migration

Centre for Cities will be taking part in an event organised by the Equality and Human Rights Commission and Migration Policy Institute at which some of the world's leading migration experts will come together to discuss how nations should respond to the challenge of migration as we enter a new economic era.  The event takes place from 10am on Thursday 19 March 2009 at King's Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9AG.  For more information, or if you would like to attend, please contact Andrew Cooper at the Equality and Human Rights Commission Media Office on 02031170255, out of hours 07767272818, or by email: andrew.cooper@equalityhumanrights.com

A8 migration refers to migration from Europe's A8 countries, which joined the European Union in May 2004.  The A8 countries are the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.  Romania and Bulgaria joined in 2007 but are subject to stricter labour market conditions.