Migration and Socio-Economic Transition: Lessons from the Polish Post-EU-Accession Migration Experience

Labor migration from the new EU member countries spurred by the EU accession in 2004 and 2007 is commonly presented as one of the most important migratory flows in recent European history. Within 10 years following the 2004 EU enlargement, the total number of migrants originating from EU10 countries and residing in the EU15 countries has risen from around one million in 2004 to over six million in 2014. As a result, some of the most important sending countries, notably Poland, the Baltic countries and Romania, have a significant share of their citizenry residing abroad (over seven percent in Poland). Moreover, post-accession migrants from the region exhibit new structural characteristics being relatively younger and better educated than in previous decades, which can have important implications for the labor market, human capital and demographic prospects. Against this background, the main aim of the paper is to assess the most critical socio-economic outcomes of post-enlargement migration from Poland and to draw migration lessons for countries aspiring to become a high income country. The analysis presented will include considerations on labor market impacts (unemployment, economic activity, labor shortages, and human capital formation), demography (particularly in terms of age structure of the population and population prospects) and the impact on structural adjustment in the Polish economy.