2002 Utah Olympics and Employment
2002 Utah Olympic Games and Employment
Approximately $ 1.9 billion was spent by the local, state and federal governments together with the Utah city organizing committee in planning and hosting the 2002 Olympic Games. A lot was spent as the event promoters were confident that the games would raise the state’s employment level by over 35,000 jobs as they had noted continued increment of job opportunities from the 1996- 2001 Olympics (Wamsley, 2002). The paper carries out an investigation on whether the 2002 Winter Olympics increased employment as claimed by the promoters.
It may be difficult to ascertain and characterize the actual jobs created because some individuals may be employed for years or more while others employed only a few months. Nevertheless, according to promoters the 2002 Olympics had an adverse impact on the overall employment rate in Utah. There was a realization of over 4,000 to 7,000 jobs which were all concentrated in the leisure sector on and up to 12 months of the games after which no employment effect was felt (Deccio & Baloglu, 2002). Other than that, Utah has held the Olympics games since 1996, and there has been the creation of jobs on annual terms. Olympics-related jobs in Utah started in 1996 with slight job opportunities of less than 100. However, from the job measurement conducted from 1996 to 2002, steady attainment of job opportunities established and maximum level was noted in 2001 where there were 12,500 job opportunities attained yearly in 2001 and approximately 25,070 jobs created in 2002 (Deccio & Baloglu, 2002). Therefore, from 1996 to 2002 the sum of employment equated to 35,000 jobs which lasted only for a year. February 2002, it is when the highest employments opportunities were created compared to other years. There were around 25,070 job opportunities created compared to 35,000 created from 1996-2001.
On the same point, the unemployment rates in Utah’s economy have been on a declining point following the extensive employment opportunities offered over the years. For instance, in 1996 the unemployment rate in Utah was approximately 9.2% and has been reducing since then such that it decreased to 5.2 percent in 2002 (Wamsley, 2002). There was a high percentage of visitors which raised the number of people showed up for the games whose consumption and demand prompted the establishment of job opportunities to meet their needs. Besides, the unemployment rate as reduced up to 3.2 percent currently which is an indication of increased job opportunities amounting to around 44,700. Additionally, although the greatest amount of employment opportunities in Utah’s economy are realized during the Olympics seasons, there has been economic growth resulting from the Olympic employment growth. As a result, during the Olympics offseasons, Utah’s economic activities are still stable, hence, continued operations which have supported the success and development of Utah’s economy.
Conclusion
In summary, the employment resulting from the Olympics has greatly impacted on Utah’s economic growth. The 0.2% of the total jobs attained in 1996 and 0.5% of all jobs in 2001 were all as a result of the Olympic Games carried out in Utah. As a result, of the increased job opportunities over the years due to the games, Olympics have supported increased employment growth in Utah from 5.1% in 1996 to 33.4% currently. Hence, the continuous economics success experienced in Utah. Lastly, though the level of population in Utah decreases during games offseason, the economy still progresses due to the attainment of a strong business which attracts the visitors who visit during the games.
References
Deccio, C., & Baloglu, S. (2002). Nonhost community resident reactions to the 2002 Winter Olympics: The spillover impacts. Journal of Travel Research, 41(1), 46-56.
Wamsley, K. B. (2002). The global sports monopoly: a synopsis of 20th-century Olympic politics. International Journal, 57(3), 395-410.
