Alan Johnson is pledging to spend £20m on training for women to work in the construction industry in the run up to the London 2012 Olympics.

Thousands of jobs for builders and others in the construction and design industries will be created as London prepares to host the Games.

The extra public money will be put towards schemes which train women to do jobs traditionally carried out by men.

The figure of £20m was promised by chancellor Gordon Brown in last year's Budget to help women find work in areas where there are skills shortages.

Improving the transport network, and building new stadiums and sports venues will be the biggest construction challenges in the run up to 2012.

In a speech to the Institute of Directors on Wednesday night, the education secretary will argue that women should benefit from the jobs boom.

"There is no reason at all why women's involvement in the games should be restricted to watching, participating and achieving in the stadium," he will say.

"They should be involved in designing and building them as well."