30,00 Poles in Scottish exodus

May 4 2008

HALF of the 60,000 Poles who flooded into Scotland have left because they cannot find good jobs.

And many more who arrived after the EU opened its boundaries are also considering going back.

The Poles, lured by cheap travel and higher wages, have been left disillusioned by the falling value of the pound and lack of skilled jobs.

The exodus could leave Scotland with a shortage in areas in which they have been working, from tourism to food processing.

Zosia Wierbowicz-Fraser, of the Inverness Polish Association, said: "Every second Pole who has come to Scotland is educated to degree level and beyond.

"Many of the people returning home have been unable to use their professional training.

"The value of the pound is dropping and there are now more and better jobs back home as Poland moves forward."