MORE than 12,000 jobs have been created at the 2012 Olympic sites, new figures reveal.

The workforce at the Olympic Park and Athletes’ Village reached 12,112 last month, according to latest report from the Olympic Delivery Authority

This is close to the peak of the workforce as work on the permanent venues - as part of the so-called “big build” project - is on track for completion by this summer, in time for test events ahead of the games.

Some 24 per cent of those employed live in the five Olympic host boroughs, with 60 per cent hailing from London.

And of the 1,268 people working on the project who were previously unemployed, 22 per cent are from Newham.

ODA chairman John Armitt said: “The ‘big build’ of the Olympic Park and 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 are 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.”

A jobs brokerage service has offered JobCentre Plus users 48-hour priority access to Olympic vacancies since April 2008, as part of the ODA’s commitment that at least 15 per cent of its workforce will be made up of host borough residents.

The Olympic project has also provided training for more than 3,000 peoples and work for 408 apprentices.