22nd May 2009, 10:04 AM
I think we have to accept that we will probably never get back to 2007-8 levels of employment, so until the number of archaeologists falls to meet the number of jobs we will always have a lot of unemployed archaeologists (I am only really talking about site staff and px/specialist staff here).
One problem this causes is the sheer number of applications means that there will always be an element of arbitrariness about choosing new staff -it takes a lot of money to sift 400 or 950 applications, especially if you are bound by a strict HR policy like most council units. That is one reason why there are less adverts on here -the jobs are out there, somewhere, but companies cannot afford to be swamped by applicants, so use word of mouth, or ex-employees, or phone other units that have shed or are shedding staff. Units are also doing a lot of inter-unit subcontracting of staff, great for the people in work as you keep your job, but less good for those seeking work as it reduces, to use the charming mot de jour 'churn'.
Archaeology always had a problem of retaining skilled staff, as the attrition rate was so high due to pay and conditions and the nature of the work. It can be argued that in the past this kept more 'committed' archaeologists in work, whilst the 'chaff' and the less committed (but maybe with no less potential) left after a year or three. And were replaced by the next batch of keen and green trowelfodder from the universities. We still have the graduates coming through, they are still in the main not being taught relevant skills, but as attrition has dropped through lack of alternative, the system is bloated and choked up with archaeologists.
What are the solutions to clearing the logjam? Well there just aren't enough jobs for everyone already established, let alone the new graduates (sorry!), so its not going to be the economy, or work picking up as I think we all know that there will be no return to the height of the old boom levels unless some new infrastructure scheme hits a 40km long deeply stratified site! And even then the levels are not and never were sustainable. I feel we will see a 10-20% drop in commercial staffing levels when we come out of this. To be blunt, we need a few hundred archaeologists to leave the profession, to go sideways into other related jobs, or to leave the country to work elsewhere. We get a few hundred graduates wanting to join every year, so we must have a few hundred leave, or the net gain in archaeologists is a net increase in unemployment and misery.
Anyway, I'm off to take advantage of having no work on and get out of town for a week. Enjoy the bank holiday weekend!
One problem this causes is the sheer number of applications means that there will always be an element of arbitrariness about choosing new staff -it takes a lot of money to sift 400 or 950 applications, especially if you are bound by a strict HR policy like most council units. That is one reason why there are less adverts on here -the jobs are out there, somewhere, but companies cannot afford to be swamped by applicants, so use word of mouth, or ex-employees, or phone other units that have shed or are shedding staff. Units are also doing a lot of inter-unit subcontracting of staff, great for the people in work as you keep your job, but less good for those seeking work as it reduces, to use the charming mot de jour 'churn'.
Archaeology always had a problem of retaining skilled staff, as the attrition rate was so high due to pay and conditions and the nature of the work. It can be argued that in the past this kept more 'committed' archaeologists in work, whilst the 'chaff' and the less committed (but maybe with no less potential) left after a year or three. And were replaced by the next batch of keen and green trowelfodder from the universities. We still have the graduates coming through, they are still in the main not being taught relevant skills, but as attrition has dropped through lack of alternative, the system is bloated and choked up with archaeologists.
What are the solutions to clearing the logjam? Well there just aren't enough jobs for everyone already established, let alone the new graduates (sorry!), so its not going to be the economy, or work picking up as I think we all know that there will be no return to the height of the old boom levels unless some new infrastructure scheme hits a 40km long deeply stratified site! And even then the levels are not and never were sustainable. I feel we will see a 10-20% drop in commercial staffing levels when we come out of this. To be blunt, we need a few hundred archaeologists to leave the profession, to go sideways into other related jobs, or to leave the country to work elsewhere. We get a few hundred graduates wanting to join every year, so we must have a few hundred leave, or the net gain in archaeologists is a net increase in unemployment and misery.
Anyway, I'm off to take advantage of having no work on and get out of town for a week. Enjoy the bank holiday weekend!