Migrants’ motivations to work in the care sector: experiences from England within the context of EU enlargement

Migrant workers are considered an economic utility, especially for secondary labour markets such as that of long-term care. The dynamics of migrant workers across the globe are governed by interacting macro, state level, and micro, personal level, factors. On the macro level immigration policies, historical and current political and economic links between countries play a crucial part in such dynamics. On an individual level, choices, actions and motivations to migrate and work in certain labour sectors are entangled with and governed by macro level policies. Since 2003, the enlargement of the European Economic Area (EEA) has enabled employers in the UK to freely recruit staff from EEA countries. This article investigates reported individual motivations and the decision making process while accounting for macro factors, specifically ease of labour mobility within the EEA versus a more elaborate process when migrating to work in social care in the UK from outside the EEA. Face to face interviews were conducted with 96 migrant social care and social work staff in six diverse areas of England (2007–2009). The analysis indicates differences in stated motivations to migrate to the UK and to work in the care sector among different groups of migrants, particularly among those from Commonwealth countries, from the EEA, and migrants from other parts of the globe. The findings highlight the importance of taking into account the role of immigration policies and consequently immigration status when investigating the policy framework and delivery of care services for older people.