The latest employment figures published by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) show that the workforce has reached 12,112. This is likely to be close to the peak number, with work on the permanent venues on course to be completed by this summer.
Nearly a quarter (24%) of the current ‘big build’ workforce is resident in the five host boroughs (Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest and Greenwich) and 60% live in London. This beast the ODA's “Jobs, Skills, Futures” target of having at least 15% of the workforce from the five host boroughs.
Nearly two-thirds (64%) are British citizens and 90% are EU nationals.
Programmes set up to maximise the employment legacy of the ‘big build’ have already helped more than 1,200 previously unemployed local people gain work on the Olympic Park, delivered more than 3,000 places for training people for work on the Park and other construction sites and enabled 408 apprentices to work on the project.
ODA chairman John Armitt said: “The 'big build' of the Olympic Park and Athletes' Village is on track and within budget and that is testament to the commitment and skill of the contractors and workforce.
“In a challenging period for the construction industry our contractors were employing 12,000 people and meeting our targets to take on local people and apprentices. Thousands of jobs up and down the country have also been created and protected in the supply chains delivering 2012 work.”
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