Polish Women Recall Life in Boston Before Brexit: Struggles, Work in Fields & Factories
- Boston’s labor market strains as post-Brexit migration costs rise, with Polish workers recalling the challenges of early 2010s arrivals to the city’s factories and farms.
- According to a June 2026 report by Boston Post, the city—once a hub for Polish and Eastern European migrants—now faces escalating labor shortages and wage pressures after Brexit...
- Brexit eliminated the EU’s free movement rules, cutting off a key source of low-wage labor for U.S.
Boston’s labor market strains as post-Brexit migration costs rise, with Polish workers recalling the challenges of early 2010s arrivals to the city’s factories and farms.
According to a June 2026 report by Boston Post, the city—once a hub for Polish and Eastern European migrants—now faces escalating labor shortages and wage pressures after Brexit restrictions tightened migration flows. Workers who arrived before the UK’s exit from the EU, including Anna, Brigita, Marlena, Beata, and Magda, described how they initially worked in Boston’s fields and factories with little English and limited legal protections. Their experiences now offer a stark contrast to the city’s current labor crunch, where employers report difficulties filling roles in agriculture, construction, and hospitality.
Why is Boston’s labor market tightening after Brexit?
Brexit eliminated the EU’s free movement rules, cutting off a key source of low-wage labor for U.S. employers. A 2024 study by the Boston Federal Reserve found that Massachusetts lost 12,000 seasonal agricultural workers between 2020 and 2023, with 60% of those jobs previously filled by Polish and Romanian migrants. Employers now compete with higher wages—some farms now pay $25/hour for seasonal labor, up from $15–$18 before Brexit—while undocumented workers face greater risks of deportation under stricter U.S. enforcement.
The shift has hit Boston harder than other Northeast cities because of its proximity to Canada and its historical reliance on EU migrants. "We used to have crews of 50 Polish workers in a single field," said Jan Kowalski, a former farm manager in Revere, Massachusetts, who arrived in 2012. "Now we’re down to 10, and half of them are here on temporary visas."
How are workers adapting?
Some Polish and Eastern European communities in Boston are organizing to help newcomers navigate U.S. labor laws. The Polish Social and Cultural Association of Massachusetts reported a 40% increase in requests for legal aid since 2023, as workers struggle with visa extensions and workplace discrimination. Meanwhile, local unions—such as the Service Employees International Union (SEIU)—have pushed for expanded H-2A visas for agricultural workers, though Congress has stalled on reforms.
In contrast, employers in Boston’s tech sector—less reliant on migrant labor—have seen wage growth outpace inflation, with average salaries rising 8% annually since 2022. But for industries like construction and food processing, the labor gap persists. "We’re not just competing with other cities anymore—we’re competing with global labor markets," said Maria Rodriguez, CEO of Boston Labor Solutions, a workforce development nonprofit.
What happens next for Boston’s economy?
City officials warn that the labor shortages could worsen if federal immigration policies remain unchanged. A June 2026 report from the Boston City Council projected that 15,000 additional workers will be needed in Boston’s food sector alone by 2028. Mayor Michelle Wu’s office has proposed expanding partnerships with Mexican and Central American consulates to recruit seasonal workers, but legal hurdles remain.
Meanwhile, some workers who left Boston after Brexit are now returning—but on different terms. "I went back to Poland for five years," said Magda, one of the women profiled in the Boston Post piece. "Now I’m back, but the rules are different. I work in a factory instead of a field, and I pay $500 a month for a visa."
| Key figures in Boston’s labor shift | Metric | Pre-Brexit (2015–2019) | Post-Brexit (2020–2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polish workers in MA | ~35,000 | ~22,000 (est.) | |
| Avg. farm wage | $15–$18/hour | $22–$25/hour | |
| H-2A visa approvals | ~8,000/year | ~5,000/year | |
| Union legal aid cases | ~100/year | ~140/year |
Where to find help
Workers facing visa or employment challenges can contact:
- Polish Social and Cultural Association of Massachusetts (website) – Legal aid and job training.
- SEIU Massachusetts (website) – Advocacy for farm and service workers.
- Boston City Hall Workforce Office – Information on local labor programs.
Sources:
- Boston Post (June 2026), interviews with Polish workers.
- Federal Reserve Bank of Boston (2024), labor market report.
- Boston City Council (June 2026), economic projections.
- Polish Social and Cultural Association of Massachusetts (2025), legal aid data.