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Migrant workers and the EU
There are 27 member states in the EU. The free movement of people is one of the fundamental rights of citizens of the EU. They have the right to study, work and retire in any member state.
Before Brexit there were some three million EU nationals living and working in the UK. Their status following the UK's departure from the EU in 2019 is still the subject of negotiation.
Where did they come from?
The highest proportion of approved applicants from A8 countries came from Poland (66%), followed by Slovakia (10%) and Lithuania (9%). Note. There are many thousands of young French citizens working in London, sometimes referred to as France's sixth largest town!
The Office of National Statistics in a recent report (July 2017) shows that the A8 countries account for 1.3 million EU citizens living in the UK. 80 per cent of those aged between 16 and 64 in the survey period of 2013 to 2015 were in work.
Where did they go?
The greatest numbers are to be found in East Anglia, the Midlands and London. There are large numbers in the South East.
What jobs do they do
EU citizens are to be found in a very wide range of employment from low-paid, unskilled seasonal workers in agriculture and food manufacturing, in hospitality and catering, to public services from bus drivers to doctors and dentists, to highly paid and highly skilled finance and management posts. The vast majority (78%) of A8 workers are young, aged 18 to mid 30s.
In the ONS study about one third of A8 citizens were in 'elementary' occupations, distribution, hospitality and manufacturing. Two in five were overqualified for the work they were doing.
UK emigrants to other EU countries?
Possibly one and a half million, though numbers are difficult to track. Many UK citizens have chosen to retire in other member states, notably France, Spain and Republic Cyprus.