The Olympic Games coming to London in 2012 will create more than 5,000 IT and telecoms jobs, generating more than £250m for the UK IT recruitment sector.

Issuing the figures, IT recruiter Greythorn said its research confirmed an unprecedented level of infrastructure and technology services will be needed over the course of the Games.

This will require IT staff not only in the construction, hospitality and retail sectors, but also to support the event’s security, data and media operations, the firm said.

Turning to its projections, the company said that if 5,000 IT jobs are created, as it estimates, with an average salary of £48, 560 per role, then the earnings will exceed £250m a year.

“The IT and telecoms infrastructure required to host the Olympics will leave a significant high-tech footprint on the UK labour market,” said Paul Winchester, managing director.

“Before the Olympics begin, emergency service lines need to be secured, WiFi coverage needs to be expanded and measures must be taken to prevent cyber attacks.”

Greythorn says demand for skilled IT and telecoms workers is already increasing, and claimed that 5% of the UK’s 29million workers currently have a job in either of the sectors.

“[And with] government forecasts suggesting 103,000 permanent jobs will be created by the Games,” Mr Winchester added, “our estimate may be on the conservative side.”