Study title

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

This is a mixed methods dataset.

The project examined Scots living in England. Scots are one of the largest non-English born immigrant groups in the UK. While the attraction of Scotland to the English-born population is documented, less attention is given to why Scots continue to migrate to England (albeit in lower numbers) and how the employment and progression opportunities, especially in the South Eastern England labour market compare with opportunities in Scotland. This is important in the context of concern about Scotland's demographic regime and the significant reduction in numbers projected over the next three decades. The research literature points to the need to reassess the role of the Scots living in SE England (especially those in cities/large towns) in terms of the functions they perform. Why have their numbers declined? How has the scale of Scottish return migration from the SE varied over time relative to the changing role of Scotland in national/international economic and political processes and in relation to demographic change in Scotland?

The research uses questionnaire survey data from a sample of Scots migrants living in South East England in 2005 with 30 qualitative interviews with Scots who had returned to Scotland.

Further information can be found on the project's ESRC funding web page.