There is no doubt the Commonwealth Games will provide an economic boost to the Gold Coast and support job creation in the region, but I’m skeptical about the estimated 30,000 jobs figure, given that the economic impacts and net benefits of major events are typically over-stated (see my previous post on the Games bid). Further, it’s unclear to what extent the jobs are ongoing, rather than temporary jobs in the construction phase or during the Games themselves.

The estimated jobs figure reported in the Sunday Mail (Gold Coast’s Commonwealth Games win set to bring a jobs revolution) appears to have come from a feasibility study undertaken by the Queensland Government. I can’t find a copy of it online, and it may not be publicly available. If so, I’d urge the Government to release the study so the community can understand the likely timing and magnitude of the economic impacts of the Games.