Overeducated and Over Here: Skilled EU Migrants in Britain (Paperback)

The UK's offer of immediate free access to A8 workers resulted in a larger-than-expected influx of A8 migrants to the UK, which caused a public backlash and heated debates over the benefits and costs of large-scale immigration. Much has been written about the political and economic impact of this influx. This book focuses instead on the complex interweaving factors affecting the work and non-work lives of skilled migrant workers in the UK working in jobs which are not commensurate with their work experience, skills and interests. The focus on the European context addresses the need for a better understanding of contemporary labour mobility within the EU. The important, though often neglected, perspective of individuals who take on work below their level forms the focus of this book. In-depth interviews analyse the lived experiences of migrant workers in the UK working in jobs which are not commensurate with their qualifications and experience.