New figures suggest that some 5,000 IT and telecoms jobs are to be
created through the 2012 Olympics in London.
According to an IT recruitment specialist, IT
professionals will be needed for a diverse set of roles arising from the
Olympics, including the installation of cyber security measures and providing
the IT and telecoms networks for the international media coverage of the Games.
WiFi coverage will need to be extended and there is also a major initiative to
extend internet access on the London Underground before the Games. Emergency
service lines also need to be secured in time for the
Games to kick off in August next year, which is another job for IT and telecoms
specialists.
The average salary for the 5,000 jobs will be an estimated £48,562, with the
jobs generating total earnings of £250 million a year.
Currently, five per cent of the UK’s workforce - which totals some 29 million
people - works in the IT industry. Overall, taking into account all industries
and job types, the government estimates that the Olympics will create 103,000
permanent jobs for people all over the UK.
Geoff Newman who works for flat free recruiter Recruitment
Genius recognises the importance of the Olypmics.
“Despite a £20m contract for recruitment agency Adecco, most of the jobs
have been filled for free using PR and the JobCentre. Even those not directly
linked to the Olympics are getting ready, such as Travellodge who are currently
recruiting and upskilling their workers. With such high unemployment the
Olympics could not have come at a better time.
