Study highlights overqualification among migrant workers

Published on Friday 7 March 2008 21:22

THE qualifications of migrant workers are not recognised by some employers in Scotland, a study shows.

Almost 1,000 workers living in Fife – the majority of them single Polish men aged 25-34 – were interviewed in the Migrant Workers Survey. The study found that, though 50 per cent had a university degree or an undergraduate qualification, more than 70 per cent made no use of their skills in their current job.

The study – the largest of its kind in Scotland – says workers were in jobs that were unfulfilling, "which suggests a waste of potential talent that could be better used".

The report's author, Andrew Ballingall, said: "There does not appear to be a recognised system to compare a Scottish degree with, for instance, a Polish degree. For some of the employers it may well suit their needs to have fairly highly qualified people doing fairly low-level jobs."

Last night, the Liberal Democrat enterprise spokesman, Liam McArthur, called for the research to be extended across the country.

The Fife Council study also found that one in four respondents had faced verbal abuse since coming to Scotland and 5 per cent had experienced physical abuse.

The most common type of job for the migrant workers questioned was in factories or processing, where around 40 per cent were employed. A further 18 per cent had construction-related jobs.

Most said they planned to stay in Fife for at least two years, and 40 per cent said they wished to stay in Scotland indefinitely.

Workers said they felt people where they lived had treated them well, but there was little evidence of integration into the community. The study found 90 per cent of workers had not used housing or medical advice services.