The main reasons for contemporary Italian Migration to Britain:
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Reasons for Leaving Italy (Push):
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Slow or insufficient agricultural economy
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Economic instability and unemployment
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Lack of opportunities, especially those related to poverty and disrupted or lack of education
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Reasons for Coming to Britain (Pull):
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Demand for labour in Britain
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Better opportunities, both with jobs and earning potential
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Increased chance of improving social status at home (as a result of earning more money)
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Chance for a different lifestyle or to gain independence
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Following family or friends
POST-WAR ITALIAN MIGRATION TO BRITAIN
After the Second World War, the Italian government formed an agreement with the British Ministry of Labour to allow Italian migrant workers to come to Britain through various schemes and the provision of work permits. Although originating from all over Italy, most came from the South, also known as Mezzogiorno*, mainly due to the insufficient agricultural economy compared to that of the more industrialised North. By 1949, over 8000 Italian migrants were entering Britain every year, with numbers peaking around 1955-1957 and 1960-1962.
As the 1970s drew nearer, immigration numbers decreased but by this time most had either returned to Italy or settled down to live and work in Britain, forming strong connections with other Italian migrants and creating their own close-knit communities. Although they and their families settled all over the country, over half were living in the South East, primarily in London and Bedfordshire, but this also covered the South Coast, including Sussex and Hampshire...
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On the South Coast, many who came to England ended up​ working on local farms, such as Linfield (also known as Chesswood) in Sussex, predominately growing and harvesting mushrooms, but also other crops such as tomatoes. Others took up posts in retail, catering and domestic services (including cooking and cleaning in hospitals and care homes), and in occupations such as brick and road-laying, and plumbing.
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*European Voluntary Workers: A term used to describe the European workers who came to Britain under various work schemes in the immediate post-War period, mainly to deal with the labour shortage, but also to help people displaced by the War.
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*Mezzogiorno: This literally translates as "midday" but has often been used to describe a cluster of regions in Southern Italy, including Sicily and Sardinia. Traditionally this was an area characterised by poverty and illiteracy, and dominated by an agricultural economy.
A large number of the earliest Italian migrants to the South Coast either followed family members over or arrived as European Voluntary Workers (EVWs)*, who were tied to an assigned occupation for four years before having the opportunity to move on. Later on, as the EVW scheme was phased out, or as individuals managed to save some money for themselves, countless businesses were also established such as: restaurants and cafés, delis and other food outlets, and hairdressing establishments, to name a few.
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Academic interest and general research in this area has grown significantly in the last thirty to forty years, not only exploring the physical effects of migration in its historical context but, additionally, the emotional and psychological impact. As time goes on, the need to preserve personal stories and recollections is increasingly important in order to ensure that individual and collective memories become as much a part of the historical record as the work of scholars and other researchers.
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To share your personal experiences of post-War Italian migration, or even what its like to be a part of the community, please do so on the forum or via the contact page. Your voice matters.