'Nearly 600,000' new EU migrants

About 600,000 people have come to the UK from the eight countries which joined the European Union in 2004, says Home Office minister Tony McNulty.

New figures show that 447,000 people from Poland and the seven other new EU states have applied to work in the UK.

But Mr McNulty said the figure would be nearer 600,000 if self-employed workers - such as builders - were included.

• 447,000 workers from eight EU accession states successfully applied for work in UK
• Over half (62%) are Polish
• 82% are aged 18-34
• 56% work in factories
• Anglia region has highest proportion of workers (15%)

There is litte sign of a slowdown in the migration flow, with more than 50,000 of the eastern and central European migrants came to Britain between March and June this year.

• Under 18: 0.5%
• 18-24: 43%
• 25-34: 39%
• 35-44: 10%
• 45-54: 6%
• 55+: 1%
• Unknown: 0.5%