Workshop
Workshop – The history of labour migration in the southern Baltic region

Labour migration between Denmark, Sweden, Poland, and Germany has both historical roots and contemporary expressions that reflect broader economic, political, and institutional transformations in Europe. Today, Polish workers are an integral part of labour markets in both Denmark and Sweden, especially in sectors such as construction, agriculture, and services. However, labour migrants from Poland tend to be overrepresented in low-skilled occupations, despite varying levels of education, and in many cases subject to poor working conditions or abuse.

Historically, the region has been characterised by recurring movements of labour, in the nineteenth century often based on season-dependent peaks of labour needs in the agricultural sector. During this period, many Swedes migrated to Denmark to find work. During the industrialisation of the nineteenth century, workers migrated to expanding industrial centres in northern Germany and southern Sweden. In the post-war period, migration intensified further as West Germany recruited so-called “guest workers,” while the Nordic countries developed more regulated labour market systems.

Poland has played a particularly significant role in these dynamics. During much of the twentieth century, mobility was constrained by political barriers, but following the 2004 enlargement of the European Union, labour migration increased substantially. This development has been facilitated by the EU principle of free movement, but it has also generated tensions concerning wage levels and labour rights. Contemporary labour migration is characterised by a high degree of circularity and flexibility. Many migrants commute between their country of origin and their country of employment, thereby blurring the distinction between permanent migration and temporary labour mobility. The Øresund region represents a clear example, where daily cross-border commuting between Denmark and Sweden is a common phenomenon.

At the same time, structural inequalities persist. This highlights how labour migration is shaped not only by economic incentives but also by institutional frameworks and processes of social stratification. Research on these issues is rich but generally focuses on one country or bilateral relations.