A total of 2,903 persons worked at temporary jobs during the Games, for day-rate or hourly wages. Organising the Games would have been impossible, however, without a big contingent of volunteer workers. Officials from various sports associations and federations, members of expert committees, the Olympic Youth, State and city agencies, civic organisations and the Defence Forces all contributed for the good of the Games. The Olympic Youth were selected from Helsinki sports clubs, scout troops and political youth organisations. By way of reimbursement the young people got free tickets to the events, a free meal once a day and certificates of honour.

Hundreds of officers and reservists worked during the Games as the so-called Olympic Battalion, attending to construction and maintenance of competition sites and communication links, patrol and transportation tasks, direction of traffic and supervision of car parks.

Työmaahuolto Oy provided food service at the competition sites around the city, at open-air restaurants built for the public and at the Olympic villages.