Extended games-time work could stem from Christmas employment

Olympic employment opportunities are overshadowing holiday hiring plans as many B.C. employers prepare to host the world in February 2010.

“We have a huge hiring need right now for 2010 Winter Games positions,” according to Andrew d’Eça, general manager of Angus One Professional Recruitment. “We need to employ 1,000 people from January 4 until the end of March as there is so much preliminary and post-Olympic and Paralympic work required at all the venues.”

There is not a great demand for holiday hiring needs, he said.

“Retail is the only sector that will have an increase in holiday hiring. however the retailers will simply take their part-time staff and increase their hours or recall laid off employees.”

All major hiring needs in the Vancouver market right now are for the Olympics, he added.

Despite the demand, d’Eça does not believe holiday hiring and Olympic employment will kick-start B.C.’s employment market.

“If you take the Olympics out of play, there are so many other factors that affect employment conditions. The holiday season will not affect employment ongoing as it is, for the most part, retail focused and seasonal only.”

He added that the Olympics could impact hospitality and tourism-related jobs in the longer term.

Commissionaires BC has not seen increased demand for the holidays, but has for the Olympic Games, according to CEO Allen Batchelar. Work for his company, in fact, slows over the holidays, he said. He anticipates the employment situation in B.C. will worsen after the games after major Olympic-related work dries up.

Elastic Path Software started hiring this summer to support the VANOC store and torch relay centre, as well as the HBC online Olympic store, according to chief talent officer Warren Wong.

Company hiring has been for anticipated volumes leading up to and including the Olympics, he said. But he expects business to be brisk throughout the holidays.

“People will be buying Olympic items as gifts and wanting to show off their colours leading up to and including the actual Games time.”

From Employment Paper October 31/09