More than 16,000 migrants from eastern Europe have registered to work in Wales in recent years according to new Welsh Assembly Government statistics. Two-thirds of these workers are Polish with migrants also coming from seven other ex-Eastern Bloc countries which joined the European Union in 2004.
Five areas - Carmarthenshire, Wrexham, Cardiff, Newport and Flintshire - have higher levels than the rest of Wales.
Figures do not include workers who have not registered or the self-employed.
The report, by the assembly government's Statistical Directorate, concentrates on the number of workers migrating to Wales from the time eight eastern European countries - known as the A8 - joined the EU in May 2004 to March 2007.
 | A8 MIGRANTS BY COUNTRY Poland - 66% Slovakia - 15% Lithuania - 6% Czech Republic - 4% Hungary - 4% Latvia - 3% Estonia - 1% Slovenia - 1% Source: Statistics for Wales |
The report says it does not provide a "fully comprehensive picture" of migration because the figures are for those workers who have signed up to the UK Government's worker registration scheme, but do not include those yet to register or who are self-employed.
Wales accounts for less than 3% of all applications from A8 nationals in the UK, but those migrating to Wales are concentrated in north east Wales, south east Wales and in Carmarthenshire.
Almost two thirds of Wales' 16,220 registered migrant workers are concentrated in just five of Wales' 22 local authority areas.
During the period covered by the figures, Carmarthenshire had 2,635 registered migrant workers, Wrexham 2,565, Newport 2,405, Cardiff 1,855 and Flintshire 1,160.
| TOP 10 MIGRANT DESTINATIONS Carmarthenshire - 2,635 Wrexham - 2,565 Newport - 2,405 Cardiff - 1,855 Flintshire - 1,160 Bridgend - 595 Swansea - 555 Pembrokeshire - 550 Powys - 540 Conwy - 515 Source: Statistics for Wales |
The statistics found that the number of applications to join the worker registration scheme during 2006 was up 25% on 2005, but information for the first quarter of 2007 suggested a slowdown in applicants.
The towns of Wrexham and Llanelli are destinations for large numbers of Wales' 10,785 registered Polish migrants.
Some anti-Polish graffiti has appeared in Llanelli, but shops and welfare centres catering to Poles have also opened in the town.
In Wrexham last year, a police officer who learned Polish to work with the growing immigrant community in Wrexham received an award for community policing.
The assembly government has also said it is preparing welcome packs for all Poles arriving in Wales.
BBC News in video and audio
News services
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
