HS2 has revealed that 160 unemployed residents from across Ealing have secured jobs on the high-speed rail project, as part of a wider drive to boost local employment.
The infrastructure scheme, which is transforming Old Oak Common in Acton into a major new transport hub, will eventually offer high-speed connections between London and Birmingham.
Nationally, 5,023 previously unemployed people have now joined the HS2 workforce — including 199 between January and March 2025 alone. The surge in job creation is part of HS2’s long-term strategy to address skills shortages and open up careers in construction, particularly for communities along the route, such as those near Old Oak Common.
Set to become the largest new railway station ever built in the UK, Old Oak Common is a major hub in HS2’s southern section and a key driver of employment in west London.
Mark Wild, CEO of HS2 Ltd, said: “Our targeted focus on training and upskilling has helped over 5,000 unemployed people to secure work on HS2. This is a
significant achievement and a further indication of the economic prize that HS2 brings.”
He added: “In my first few months, I’m proud to have met with some of the men and women that have benefitted from our employment programmes. HS2 is creating new opportunities for people now, and that will continue in the years ahead.”
