Tens of thousands of jobs could be on their way to the US if Boeing is chosen to build an aerial tanker in the country.

According to a study commissioned by the aerospace firm, between 62,605 and 70,706 employment opportunities will be generated if the company procures a contract with the US government to develop and build a tanker.

This is ten times more jobs than would be created if either of the other rival companies bidding for the contract are successful, Reuters reported.

However, Tim Keating, Boeing spokesman in Washington, reminded jobseekers that the aerospace engineering firm had not yet successfully procured the deal.

He told the news agency: "There is a contract we have to win. We have not won it yet. We remain in a competitive situation."

These jobs would be welcome in the US, where unemployment presently affects 9.7 per cent of the population.

Boeing, which is headquartered in St Louis, already has more than 70,000 employees worldwide.