Nov. 6, 2009 (United Press International) -- Polish citizens who work abroad earned $49 billion in 2008 and sent one-sixth of the money to their families back home, a report shows.

The Polish financial firm Capital One (NYSE:COF) Advisers says over the last five years Polish immigrants were paid $186 billion and transferred almost $31 billion of it to Poland, Polish radio reported Friday.

In Britain, highly skilled immigrant workers who speak English can count on similar wages to British workers, the report indicates.

The average Pole employed abroad earns about $1,930 a month, Capital One Advisers says. However, a report by the Polish financial and business Web site money.pl indicates even higher pay levels, saying most Polish immigrants earn about $2,969 a month and some are paid monthly wages of $4,454.