London Olympics 2012. Copyright Michael Pead. www.michaelpead.co.uk

The Olympic Delivery Authority have published the latest employment and skills figures which show that 6,277 people are currently working on the Olympic Park construction site and 2,887 people are working on the Olympic Village.

The rapid rise in workforce is equally beneficial for the five host boroughs Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest and Greenwich, as twenty per cent of the Olympic Park workers live in the boroughs.

ODA Chairman John Armitt said: “The ‘big build’ workforce is continuing to grow as we enter our toughest year. We are meeting our commitments to ensure employment and training opportunities for people living around the Olympic Park. The project remains on track and that is testament to the skill, professionalism and hard work of every single member of the workforce.”

Furthermore, a Community and Trade Union Learning Centre has opened beside the Olympic Park which offers free skills training and advice to site workers and the local community. 2,442 trainees have already passed through the National Skills Academy at the Plant Training Centre and Thames House Training centre in Newham set up to help local people access work on the Olympic Park and other construction sites.

Over three-quarters (76 per cent) of the workforce are British citizens, compared to 70 per cent in October 2008, and 88 per cent are EU nationals.