Presentation of the results of the

study „Returns of the residents of the

Podlaskie region from abroad”

What is migration? What are its causes?

According to neoclassical theories, the main reasons for migration are:

differences in earnings between the sending and the receiving country

expectations of migrants to find a better job in the destination country.

According to this approach, return migration, that is, re-emigration, is the result of a failure caused by the migrant's failure to meet the expectations of the departure and to achieve the anticipated benefits.

What is migration? What are its causes?

According to the New Economics of Worker Migration, migration is the result of making a rational decision, and its main goal is not to maximise the profits, but to minimise the risk.

In this theory, return migration is the result of a success achieved abroad. Such success is the result of a deliberate strategy of simultaneous saving and transferring money to the household in the home country; it is determined by the level of economic security, purchasing power and savings. In this approach, migration is supposed to be temporary.

What is migration? What are its causes?

The structural approach, in turn, recognises that migration, in addition to

economic factors, is also influenced by social and institutional factors in the

home country of the emigrant. In structural theories, the key factor

influencing return migration are the resources that the migrant has gathered

abroad and brings with him or her to the home country.

Theory Point of view Key findings

Neoclassical theories individual migrant – Migration is the result of differences in earnings between countries; – Return migration is the result of a failure – the objectives have not been met.

New Economics of Worker Migration

Immigrant's household – migration is the result of a strategy aiming to diversify the risk, it may not necessarily ensue from differences in earnings; - return migration is the result of the result of a success achieved abroad.

Structural theories Complex social reality – migration is influenced by social and institutional factors in the migrant's sending country; – re-emigrants may have an impact on the social and economic situation in the country of return, depending on the resources accumulated abroad.

Who is a return migrant?

A return migrant is a person who has returned to the country after a period of migration.

In this study it was assumed that return emigrants are people who have been abroad for at least 3 months. Their stay abroad was due to educational or profit-related reasons.

Return migration is a phenomenon that is being increasingly visible in Poland. After opening the labour markets of the Western European countries, mass departures of Poles took place due to educational and profit-related reasons. Majority of the migrants that left as a result of the crisis, which became apparent in Europe in 2007, decided to return to Poland.

This phenomenon is becoming more intensive and results, among others, in reverse culture shock In mild cases it may manifest itself in irritation, in more severe cases – in depression, difficulty in coping with daily routines, feeling of misunderstanding on the part of the closest ones and grievance over the abandoned way of life.

ASSUMPTIONS OF THE STUDY

Research objectives:

1) Determination of the characteristics of the phenomenon of the return from abroad of the residents of the Podlaskie province, scale of this phenomenon, its dynamics and consequences for the regional and local labour markets.

2) Making a thorough diagnosis of the social and professional situation of the residents of the Podlaskie province who returned from abroad.

3) Identification of the factors that influence and encourage residents of the Podlaskie province to return from abroad.

4) Determination of the professional potential and experience of the residents of the Podlaskie province acquired during their stay abroad.

Research objectives (continued):

5) Determination of the professional plans and strategies of the residents of the Podlaskie province who returned from abroad.

6) Identification of the educational and training needs of the residents of the Podlaskie province who returned from abroad, and of other forms of assistance targeted at this group.

7) Identification and analysis of the support targeted at the people returning from abroad by institutions and organisations (along with identification of specific actions), its evaluation in terms of adaptation to the needs and in terms of effectiveness, along with suggestions for improvements.

Subjects of the study The subjects of the study were the residents of the Podlaskie province – a total of over 6,500 households interviewed via the Computer-assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) – it made possible to estimate the scale of return migration and to estimate the potential future migration.

Return migrants from across the Podlaskie province – their number was estimated in the course of interviews with the representatives of the households. Additionally, people who have experienced migration was examined using qualitative techniques (34 in-depth interviews, 3 focused group interviews)

Current emigrants from the Podlaskie province – at least 200 people during migration at this moment – via Computer-assisted web interviewing (CAWI)

Labour market experts

Migration to and from Podlaskie province in 2005-2011 by gender

The largest wave of emigration occurred in 2006. As of now (i.e. in 2011) a slight increase in returns, but also in departures is observed

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Returns (men) 205 194 210 243 232 266 298

Returns (women) 257 200 205 167 168 255 213

Departures (men) 270 697 457 359 198 189 262

Departures (women) 295 541 304 309 271 232 325

50

150

250

350

450

550

650

750

20-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41-45 46-50 51-55 56-60 61-65 66-700

100

200

300

400

308338

259

208170

197179

155

110

48

Return migrants to the Podlaskie province in years 2005-2011 by age

Mostly people aged 20-30 return to the Podlaskie province. It should be concluded that such people went abroad immediately after graduation or even during studying. Slightly older people of this group, aged 26-30, emigrated mostly as unemployed graduates of higher education institutions. Their emigration was usually motivated by the difficult economic situation in the country.

New unemployed residents of the Podlaskie province, and migrants returning to that province in years 2007-2012, in absolute figures. Data for 2012 cover

the January-May period

Despite the downward trend, the unemployed residents of the Podlaskie province who returned from abroad are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to unemployment in the province. It should not be construed that it is the return migrants that contributes to such a high unemployment rate.

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 I-VI 20120

100002000030000400005000060000700008000090000

100000

72439 7555090955 88386

75457

34609

108 201

498 442

404

214

registered unemployed residents of the Podlaskie province registered unemployed migrants who returned to the Podlaskie province

Percentage of return migrants and emigrants in the studied population

The quantitative study revealed that 10% of families in the Podlaskie province are affected by migration. In as many as 7.3% of the households there is someone who is currently on migration. During the study, there were 2.3% return migrants in family households.

Yes, there is (are) such person(s) in this household

Yes, this person is still abroad No, there is no such person in this household

0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%70.0%80.0%90.0%

100.0%

2.3%7.3%

90.4%

Percentage of emigrants and return migrants by districts

Number of return

migrants and emigrants

varies between

districts. Most return

migrants are in the

Sejny district (4.2%)

and Augustów district

(3.9%).

Augustów district

Białystok district

Białystok municipal district

Bielsk district

Grajewo district

Hajnówka district

Kolno district

Łomża municipal district

Łomża district

Mońki district

Sejny district

Siemiatycze district

Sokółka district

Suwałki district

Suwałki municipal district

Wysokie Mazowieckie district

Zambrów district

0.0% 2.0% 4.0% 6.0% 8.0% 10.0% 12.0% 14.0% 16.0%

3.9%

0.8%

1.6%

1.8%

1.0%

2.1%

1.6%

2.3%

2.1%

2.9%

4.2%

1.6%

2.6%

2.1%

2.9%

2.9%

2.6%

7.8%

4.9%

3.1%

5.7%

8.1%

5.7%

9.1%

6.3%

6.3%

10.9%

9.9%

8.3%

7.8%

8.3%

7.8%

5.7%

7.8%

return migrants emigrants

Age of return migrants

Return migrants are people in working age – the predominant age range is 25-34, with persons under 45 accounting for 80% of total return migrants.

18-24

25-34

35-44

45-54

55-64

65 i więcej

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%

17%

41%

22%

12%

5%

3%

Education level of return migrants

Return migrants are educated persons. As many as 42% of them have higher education. In total, 40% have secondary education, and another 20% have vocational or lower education.

elementary

junior high school

vocational

secondary

secondary (technical)

higher

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%

3%

1%

13%

17%

23%

42%

Average duration of the stay abroad

As many as three-quarters (73.1%) of the respondents, indicated the time of stay abroad period between one month and one year. Nevertheless, it is apparent that majority of the respondents stays abroad for up to six months. In case of 8.7% of the respondents, the stay abroad lasted for 5 or more years.

uncertain

up to 3 months

up to 6 months

up to 1 year

up to 2 years

up to 3 years

up to 4 years

5 years

6-7 years

8 years and more

0.0% 5.0% 10.0% 15.0% 20.0% 25.0% 30.0% 35.0%

Purpose of the last visit abroad

The most important reason to go abroad is work, in most cases legal work (63.8% of responses) but also illegal (14.8%). In the second place the given motives included training and education. The sample also included individuals whose goal for the last visit was a holiday – 2.1% or a business trip – 0.7%.

business trip

holiday

illegal work

education/training

legal work

0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0%

0.7%

2.1%

14.8%

18.7%

63.8%

Purpose of the last visit abroad

The key factor influencing the decision to leave was higher earnings – it was indicated by 59.7% of the respondents. As the subsequent reasons, the respondents indicated better opportunities for learning and self-development.

59.7%

5.4%

8.7%

13.5%

4.9%4.9% 2.8%

higher earnings

higher living standards

better opportunities of self-development

better education opportunities

other

possible employment

curiosity of the world

The current professional situation of return emigrants

43% of return migrants are currently working full-time. Nearly 17% are unemployed, and nearly 9% still learn.

I am a graduate seeking employment

I am not employed and I am not looking for employment

I am a farmer

I work part-time

Other

I work occasionally

I am self-employed

I am a pensioner

I am a student

I am unemployed

I work full-time

0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0%

2.0%

3.4%

3.4%

3.4%

4.0%

4.0%

5.4%

6.0%

8.7%

16.8%

43.0%

Difficulties and problems of migrants after returning home

60.4% of the respondents did not experience any difficulties after returning to Poland, as presented in the chart below. 22.8% of the respondents indicated no or little aid in finding their place in the labour market.

Little psychological support

Little/no access to information on issues such as the formalities to be completed after return

Other problems and difficulties

Little/no aid in finding my place in the labour market

I experienced no difficulties after the return

0.7%

7.4%

8.7%

22.8%

60.4%

Forms of assistance offered and expected

As many as 96.6% of migrants surveyed had not received any assistance on their return home. Support received only 3.4% of respondents, which was offered to support education and training and information (1.3% of responses), and financial (0.7%). At the same time, these three forms of assistance received relatively highest proportions expected indications for help.

other

psychological

legal

financial

informational

education/training-related

any help

8.9%

1.1%

7.8%

14.5%

17.9%

25.7%

24.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.7%

1.3%

1.3%

96.6%

Offered help Expected help

Determination of the characteristics of the phenomenon of the return from abroad of the residents of the Podlaskie province, scale of this phenomenon,

its dynamics and consequences for the regional and local labour markets.

The results of primary research allow to make the assessment that the return migration can be estimated at around 2% of the general population, therefore making it not very distinct. It involves a relatively small group of people, although it should be noted that this phenomenon also affected families of the migrants. There are substantially less returns to the Podlaskie province than departures; the increase in returns is observed for 2010 and 2011; the most numerous group of return migrants are people aged 20-35, among return migrants there is also a lot of children aged up to 2. Those who have returned from migration are not a substantial group of the unemployed. The returns, to the extent revealed by the available data, do not substantially affect the labour market in the region.

Making a thorough diagnosis of the social and professional situation of the residents of the Podlaskie province who returned from abroad.

Return migrants above all need stability. Poland is unable to provide such stability, as it does not offer jobs nor insurance, it does not support the initiatives of the migrants who invest money earned from abroad, and instead imposes a tax on such earnings. Professional situation of the migrants looks relatively well. As many as 71% work full-time, 7.5% is self-employed, and only 5.5% work part-time.

Identification the factors that influence and encourage residents of the Podlaskie province to return from abroad.

The main reason for the return is the realisation of the executed migration plan, as well as the family and the commitments in Poland. The decision to return is often made before the departure, and the chosen date is determined by the completion of the assumed objective and the situation in Poland (if it improves) and/or the situation in the destination country (if there is a push factor). The decision to return to the country is, in most cases, a thought-out decision, with the time of return carefully planned. The majority of the migrants had scheduled their decision to return to the country and they knew beforehand when exactly they want to come back. Other respondents indicated that their return was a spontaneous decision.

Determination of the professional potential and experience of the residents of the Podlaskie province acquired during the stay abroad.

The return migrants, when asked about their plans in Poland, are least enthusiastic about the idea of opening their own business – only 7.6% strongly agreed to the idea. A total (responses: I strongly agree and I tend to agree) of 22.7% of the respondents agreed with the statement that their stay in Poland is temporary and they intend to go abroad again. The results show that only 32.4% of the respondents definitely intend to work in a profession in which they had worked before they left, whereas as many as 52.8% of the respondents (total responses: I strongly agree and I tend to agree) declare their willingness to use in Poland the skills acquired during their stay abroad. At the same time, however, 38.2% of the respondents declare that the skills they acquired abroad will not be adequately used in Poland, with one in five respondents expressing their opinion as a strong one. It was also revealed that that the current occupation is incompatible with the profession performed/learned abroad for as many as 69.7% of the respondents.

Determination of the professional plans and strategies of the residents of the Podlaskie province who returned from abroad.

Return migrants have various professional plans for the time after they return to the country. 34.9% of the respondents intend to complete their education in the profession they have never performed, and another 22.1% wish to return to work performed prior to the departure. One in ten migrant respondents wishes to set up their own business, with the following indicated as industries in which they would like to work: personal counselling, carpentry, photography and visual art, catering, hotels and tourism, IT, self-employed taxi driver, furniture, electrical industry projects, transport, tourism, real estate management. It is characteristic that only 6.7% of the respondents intend to perform in Poland the same job as abroad. The relatively high percentage of persons unwilling to work (18.1%) is related, in large part, to the presence in the sample of students currently focused on learning, and of young mothers taking care of their children.

Identification of the educational and training needs of the residents of the Podlaskie province who returned from abroad, and of other forms of

assistance targeted to this group.

It was revealed that more than half of the migrants (54.4%) are not interested in continuing their education and do not intend to take any action in this regard. One in five respondents wishes to retrain and acquire education in the profession he or she has never performed, and 12.1% of the respondents wishes to continue his or her education in the profession performed prior to the departure. The low percentage of answers indicating the willingness to complement the knowledge and skills in the profession performed abroad (2%) once again confirms the discrepancy in occupations performed abroad and in Poland.

Identification and analysis of the support targeted at the people returning from abroad by institutions and organisations (along with identification of specific actions), its evaluation in terms of adaptation to the needs and in

terms of effectiveness, along with suggestions for improvements.

Overall, the respondents are not very familiar with the activities directed at people returning from abroad, which does not mean that such efforts are not made. Only 3.4% of the respondents had been offered aid in the scope of providing information, education and training – 1.3% responses respectively. Majority of the respondents did not apply for aid – as answered by 55.3% of the respondents. The District Labour Office was the institution from which the respondents expected aid the most often, with 32.3% of return migrants registering with the Office.

Determination of the scale of the planned returns to the Podlaskie province and determination of the factors affecting the intensity of returns of the

current emigrants.

According to the study carried out for migrants currently on migration, it can be assumed that about 15% of them intend to return to Poland. It should be noted, however, that the study was burdened with an error and may not be representative for all emigrants, because the exact number persons on migration and its structure of this population are unknown.

Determination of the needs and expectations for aid and training among the current emigrants in different European countries and those who intend to

return to the Podlaskie province.

When it comes to the expected aid, education and training (25.7%), information (17.9%) and financial (14.5%) aids were indicated most often. In case of other forms of the expected aid, mostly health insurance was mentioned.

Determination of the range of actions taken by government and non-government institutions of the selected provinces aiming at encouraging

emigrants to return to their regions.

At least several programs are known that are targeted at migrants and aimed at encouraging them to return to Poland. Nonetheless, the knowledge of such programs among the people who returned from migration is little and remains at about 3%. According to the experts who participated in the study there is no policy that would be aimed to encourage the migrants to return to the country or the region.

Thank you for your attention!

IPC Research Instituteul. Ostrowskiego 3053-238 Wrocław

Tel. 71/7949249e-mail biuro@instytut-ipc.pl

www.instytut-ipc.pl