A 2012 labour market legacy: The bigger picture

The concept of legacy is important to the organisers of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. This paper examines the opportunities offered by the 2012 Games for a 'welcome' legacy in the context of the labour market, briefly outlining three aspects that need to be understood if any labour market legacy is to be secured:—The scale and nature of the employment opportunities likely to be generated by the 2012 Games.—The labour market contexts within which these opportunities will arise, with reference not only to the '5 Host Boroughs' of East London where most 2012 Olympic and Paralympic events will take place but also to the Borough of Weymouth and Portland which will host the sailing events.—The type of intervention that is likely to help link 2012-related jobs with local labour markets, with reference to case studies of relevant practices elsewhere in the UK.The paper assesses the importance of filling 2012-related job vacancies alongside addressing wider labour market issues. On the one hand, this means understanding the labour market context as it is today, to enable public sector agencies to pool their resources and converge around a once-in-a-generation event, and tackle existing labour market issues. On the other hand, this means equipping people with the skills that they and the wider economy will require in the future. Therefore, it is important to view the 2012 Games not as an end in themselves, but as a unique opportunity to take forward broader labour market aspirations.