The experiences of 'new' East European immigrants in the UK labour market

This paper explores the experiences of new European immigrants (from Albania, Bulgaria, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro and Ukraine) in the UK labour market, in relation to their education and training at home, as well as the extent of occupational mobility within the UK. It draws on a survey of nearly 400 new immigrants interviewed in late 2005, and a similar number of long-term residents in Brighton Hove, Hackney and Harrow. The study does not show signs of heavy competition for jobs between the immigrants and long-term residents. Labour shortages appear to remain, with East Europeans reporting low levels of unemployment and long-term residents reporting little antipathy towards these newcomers.