Diggers Time?

[Beasley]

Is it just me or has the time finally arrived in this glorious profession of ours that there are more jobs than experienced diggers? Is it the diggers time at last?

[kevin wooldridge]

quote:Originally posted by Beasley

Is it just me or has the time finally arrived in this glorious profession of ours that there are more jobs than experienced diggers? Is it the diggers time at last?

As far as job adverts go there are no more jobs being advertised at present than at the same time last year.

Whether there is a dearth of experienced diggers is another matter. There are two populations in UK archaeology, 'established' and 'transient' (just to give them a title). What appears to happen when people mention that there is a shortage of experienced staff is that part of the 'transient' population, for one reason or another has become 'established'. This always seems to be the case after a harsh winter or when there is a nice big autumn/winter urban project somewhere. It is much the same case with daffodils!!

I am sure if there were a 'real' shortage of experienced diggers our industry would respond in the classic market reaction to skills shortage which would be to substantially increase wages. This may be happening where units wish to hang on to staff they already have (although I have no evidence to support such a contention), but if that is the case doesn't yet seem to have translated to job adverts.

[the invisible man]

I would guess that it would take time to filter through, as contrcats will have been won on a price based on existing wages. To have to employ staff on a higher wage obviously means lower profits or a loss, which understandably is considered a Bad Thing and will be a last resort. Even the next contract may be tendered at the old rates in the hope (probably justified) that it was just a blip in the market.

Obviously this is speculation on my part - I would welcome comments from project managers in particular, who seem to be strangely absent from BAJR.

We owe the dead nothing but the truth.

[Digger]

Apparently there is quite a drop in students applying to study archaeology in the UK (massively). So may be a bit like the black death- shortage of workers.

[1man1desk]

quote:Apparently there is quite a drop in students applying to study archaeology in the UK

This may be a good thing for those already in the profession and staying. As I pointed out a couple of weeks ago, the best long-term solution to low wages in archaeology is to reduce the over-supply of new graduates.

1man1desk

to let, fully furnished

[Matthew Ginnever]

quote:Originally posted by 1man1desk

quote:Apparently there is quite a drop in students applying to study archaeology in the UK

This may be a good thing for those already in the profession and staying. As I pointed out a couple of weeks ago, the best long-term solution to low wages in archaeology is to reduce the over-supply of new graduates.

1man1desk

to let, fully furnished

Are there really that many new graduates flooding into the system? Im a student currently, and of the 70 odd students across three accademic years at my uni, i know of perhaps 5 (myself included) who are seriously considering archaeology as a career choice. Its not just the falling numbers of applicants to be honest, I also think that most of those who do apply have basicaly no intention of even atempting to get a career in the profession. Of course this might just be my Uni...

[kevin wooldridge]

quote:Originally posted by Matthew Ginnever
Are there really that many new graduates flooding into the system?

The 'influx' market may be slightly distorted at the moment by the number of European archaeologists seeking to work in the UK. I have a feeling that year on year the number of fresh UK graduate archaeologists entering the job market approximately equals the number of tired, emotional and dispirited archaeologists leaving or as we now say, 'doing a Troll'. (I won't say 'trolling' as I am aware that has a particularly sensitive meaning down south).

[muddyandcold]

Is that the same Beasley
whomed used to work for PCA (London)? Worked on one of your sites in south london. Be interested in making contact.

[Cautionary Tale]

Quote "...i know of perhaps 5 (myself included) who are seriously considering archaeology as a career choice.." From Matt G.

Sound remarkably similar to the situation in the late nineties with my year of graduates. I mourn the loss of Troll as the most recent of the dearly departed of our year from the profession.

It may be that there is some university out there which is producing particularly battle hardened field archaeologists which stay in larger numbers. Smells like a subject for a survey: which uni and how many years in the field...

Of the Clan Sutton

[Matthew Ginnever]

quote:Originally posted by Barnesy

Quote "...i know of perhaps 5 (myself included) who are seriously considering archaeology as a career choice.." From Matt G.

Sound remarkably similar to the situation in the late nineties with my year of graduates. I mourn the loss of Troll as the most recent of the dearly departed of our year from the profession.

It may be that there is some university out there which is producing particularly battle hardened field archaeologists which stay in larger numbers. Smells like a subject for a survey: which uni and how many years in the field...

Of the Clan Sutton

Well I dont know about other Uni's, but mine (oxford) cant be producing that many 'battle hardened' field archaeologists as we are only required to do 5 weeks of digging in total for the 3 year course. Im finding it expensive and difficult to try and fill my holidays with digging experiences