Following World War II, textile and engineering firms hired workers from which two countries?

After the Second World War, Britain faced a significant labor shortage, particularly in industries like textiles and engineering. The war had disrupted production, and many British workers were either still serving in the armed forces or had been lost during the conflict. To address this, the British government actively encouraged immigration from Commonwealth countries. India and Pakistan, newly independent nations with large populations, became key sources of labor. Agents travelled to these countries to recruit workers, offering them jobs and the promise of a better life in Britain. Many people from India and Pakistan took up these opportunities, filling crucial roles in the textile mills of northern England and the engineering factories across the country. This wave of immigration significantly shaped Britain's multicultural landscape and contributed to the post-war economic recovery. While other Commonwealth countries like South Africa and Canada also saw emigration to the UK, the scale of recruitment and subsequent settlement from India and Pakistan in these specific industries was far greater.