East-European immigrants responding to the recession in Britain: is there a trade-off between unemployment and over-qualification?

Summary

Most studies demonstrating the vulnerability of labour migrants
following the recession have focused on unemployment. This article
examines how the labour market performance of East-European workers in
the U.K. has been affected by the recession by focussing on four
possible employment outcomes: unemployment, self-employment,
over-qualification and part-time jobs. By showing the relatively low
rates of unemployment amongst East-European migrants, which have become
even lower following the recession, it argues that the vulnerability of
immigrants in periods of economic downturn cannot always be solely
measured in higher rates of immigrant unemployment. Labour migrants may
be prompted to take jobs (any jobs) below their skills and
qualifications, thus suggesting a ‘trade-off’ between unemployment and
over-qualification.