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Scottish Town Attracts Migrants to Combat Population Decline

From El Nacional · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The Scottish town of Greenock is experiencing demographic shifts as hundreds of Africans and refugees move to the area, leading to new businesses like African food stores.
  • The local council aims to attract more residents to combat a significant population decline, which has seen Inverclyde lose 22,000 residents since 1981.
  • Affordable housing has attracted migrants, many on skilled worker visas, but a lack of local employment opportunities remains a major challenge for the town's revitalization.

Greenock, a Scottish town once marked by a declining population, is undergoing a demographic transformation with the arrival of hundreds of Africans and refugees. This influx has revitalized its main street, evidenced by new businesses like Anik African Store, which offers a taste of Nigeria with products such as yam, plantain, and catfish. The presence of multiple African food stores signifies a notable shift from just five years ago when seeing a Black person in Greenock was rare.

The Scots are lovely and hospitable.

— Christianah OmilanaOwner of Anik African Store, describing her experience in Greenock after moving to the UK in 2021.

Local residents describe the Scottish people as "charming and hospitable," a sentiment echoed by Anik's owner, Christianah Omilana, who moved to the UK in 2021. She believes more immigrants would come if jobs were available. The town's council is actively working to reverse Inverclyde's severe population decline, which has seen its numbers drop by 22,000 since 1981 and is projected to fall another 16% in the next two decades.

Immigrants will come when there is work.

— Christianah OmilanaOwner of Anik African Store, commenting on the importance of job availability for attracting more migrants.

While affordable housing has drawn many migrants, often on skilled worker visas that bolster the healthcare sector, the lack of employment is a persistent issue. "If the local council can provide jobs, everything in Greenock will change, because people [from Africa] would like to come," says Sunday, a new resident who moved from Devon to work at a Glasgow hospital while his wife works locally. The council's strategy includes encouraging existing migrants to settle permanently and attracting other legal immigrants and refugees.

It's a charming and welcoming town.

— SundayA new resident in Greenock who moved from Devon.

However, the reality for some is stark. "It's a ghost town," says Tiffany, a 29-year-old mother who moved away for work but returned to raise her child. "There's absolutely nothing. Nothing to do, no shops. No work." She faces the prospect of leaving again due to the difficulty of finding jobs that accommodate her childcare needs.

If the local council can provide jobs, everything in Greenock will change, because people [from Africa] would like to come.

— SundayA new resident in Greenock, emphasizing the need for employment opportunities.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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