Analysis

Polish workers turn to Germany as Brexit looms

Germany has overtaken the UK as the preferred destination for Polish workers, new figures have revealed.

According to Central Statistics Office, the number of Poles in the UK has fallen to around 695,000, while Germany is home to 706,000.

Kamil Wolczyk, who manages Polish recruitment for Germany at the Work Service jobs agency, told the TV news station Al Jazeera that key considerations for roving Poles are wages, distance from home, and accommodation on the job. In that context, Germany is a convenient choice, with its doorstep proximity and Western salaries.

“We’re seeing more and more Polish job candidates [in Germany] who list work experience in the UK on their CVs,” Wolczyk told Al Jazeera.

According to the Polish Central Statistics Office, the Netherlands is the third most popular location for Polish migrant workers.