Mobile transitions to adulthood and soft skills of Polish and Lithuanian return migrants

ENThe main aim of this article is to analyse the interplay between international migration, life events related to transition to adulthood and the acquisition of soft skills as a result of working and living abroad. The article is based on an online survey conducted in spring and summer 2020 among 740 Polish and Lithuanian return migrants from the UK who returned to Poland and Lithuania. International migration helped them, above all, to acquire both English language communication skills and to learn teamwork - soft skills which are important for career development. In both groups of Polish and Lithuanian return migrants, international migration accelerated three key processes: 1. starting to make independent decisions, 2. becoming financially independent from their parents and 3. finding stable employment. In both groups, becoming financially independent was linked significantly to the high level of soft skills acquired abroad. Keywords: mobile transitions to adulthood, soft skills, return migrants.