21st January 2009, 05:55 PM
Quote:quote:Originally posted by drpeterwardleLets us discuss what the figures actually mean and if the government increade in expenditure on infra structure will reverse these job losses.
Well OK. What do these figures really mean?
I am guessing that a lot of archaeological firms in a 'normal year' lay-off staff in the last quarter of the year. This year 345 archaeologists were laid off. Is that the 'normal' number (in which case Crisis what Crisis!!) or is this year a particularly bad year. Unfortunately the questionnaire doesn't address this.
Are there 345 archaeologists out there looking for work?. Probably, but is that a normal figure for this time of the year or is this year a particularly bad year. And again shouldn't an attempt be made to track what some of those unemployed are doing (or not doing!!). I don't believe that is as difficult as Peter suggests it might seem. I would imagine that a posting to BAJR Forums inviting unemployed archaeologists to respond directly to the IfA/FAME would easily get 345 responses maybe more (and that may suggest some degree of accuracy or inaccuracy in that magic figure of 345). Again the questionnaire doesn't address these questions.
The IfA have jumped (and I am not criticising their actions) to announce a number of measures to relieve the suffering of IfA members. Because....either this is a particualrly bad year or the IfA has only just realised that a lot of archaeologists get laid off over the winter period. (There you go, who says the IfA are out of touch!!) In which case can we expect these measures to be repeated ad infinitum.
Don't get me wrong I am fully in favour of this survey, but it seems that with a little more thought it could actually be made more accurate and therefore more useful.