I have an association with a fairly busy retail ecommerce site in the UK and in the last few weeks I’ve noticed a very significant drop-off in the number of Polish ’sounding’ names given by customers placing orders. The British, Middle Eastern and East Asian sounding names are still there but the once familiar Polish or former Eastern Block names have all but gone.
Certainly, this is not a scientific method as many British families inherited Polish surnames after World War II but is this an indicator that Polish immigrants are leaving the UK? It could, of course, be the case that they are still here but they are not buying as part of a larger economic down turn. However, I suspect any economic downturn would see Polish workers leaving to take advantage of the now increasing power of their home economy.
I would therefore be concerned that disappearing ex eastern-bloc workforce could be a major pointer to the wider health of the UK economy.
Tags: downturn, eastern bloc, ecommerce, economy, leaving, polish economy, polish immigrants, retail, uk
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