Job losses in Ireland

[kevin wooldridge]

The Institute of Archaeologists in Ireland have published a report detailing the extent of archaeolgical job losses in that country in the last year. Grim reading.....but very valuable to see it in black and white I think.

http://iai.ie/news.html

With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...

[kevin wooldridge]

Quote from the introduction

'IAI survey of the employment levels in Irish Archaeology

The IAI has published the results of a survey of the employment levels in Irish archaeology. The survey was carried out in March 2009 and examines in detail the employment trends for the period June 2008 ? January 2009, comparing them with the baseline established by the Discovering the Archaeologists of Europe study in 2007.

The results of the survey have confirmed the anecdotal evidence and reveals to the profession, for the first time, the scale of the decline over a seven month period from June 2008 to January 2009. The numbers of archaeologists represented in this survey as employed in June 2008 accounts for 27% (459 of 1709) of the estimated numbers of archaeologists employed in Ireland in 2007.

The decline in the numbers of people employed in Irish Archaeology is reflected in both contract and permanently employed archaeologists. A reduction of the magnitude of 82% of contract archaeologists and 26% of permanently employed archaeologists can only be described as substantial.
It is intended to repeat and update the survey regularly during 2009; the next update will focus evaluating the period ending June 2009.'




With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...

[diggingthedirt]

This has been a completely disastrous period for Irish Archaeology, and if anything the current projections of job losses (50% +) are optimistic in the extreme. Whilst 82% of contract staff sounds realistic ? 26% of full-time archaeologist sounds way off the mark, and I think this figure has been slightly skewed by how ?contract staff? are defined. One of the big five companies is no longer trading, and many others are down to a bare minimum, with staff working short-time, 15-20% pay reductions, and removal of all benefits including sick pay and accommodation.

With no road schemes initiated this year, and no road schemes yet given the green light in the immediate future, the commercial sector will slim down further in 2009 as post-excavation work draws to a close. This is caused by a massive public deficit and compounded by the lack of direction in central government, as the Finance department have stopped all projects that may continue longer than the end of this year. The effect of this has been a price war between archaeological companies, and judging by some of the recent winning kamikaze bids, some are working for free, or sailing close to bankruptcy.

It?s hard to see a positive outcome from all this. The survey concludes:

?The reduction in the numbers of archaeologists brings fear of a ?brain drain? as skilled and experienced employees lack the opportunities to put their abilities into practice in the work place. There is now a real risk that a significant proportion of the skilled archaeologists currently in Ireland, at a range of experience levels, may be forced to leave the profession. Their exodus will sever the crucial connection between the excavating archaeologists, the site archive and the ultimate dissemination of knowledge through appropriate media.?

The emigration of skilled workers is a painful and historically resonant prospect in Ireland, but one that?s now firmly underway.


http://www.diggingthedirt.com

[BAJR Host]

The trouble is... to where can they go?

The market in the UK is not exactly desparate for new staff.

Which reminds me... its soon time for another BAJR Survey.

Constant development is the law of life, and a man who always tries to maintain his dogmas in order to appear consistent drives himself into a false position.
Mohandas Gandhi

[trowelhead]

I trust that before the sad job loses all the post had been done from the boom years to satisfy the excavation lisence.

What do you mean lost on price again!

[trowelhead]

Thats "Post Ex" rather than the mail..

What do you mean lost on price again!

[darksider]

Which one of the "big five" is no longer trading then ?



Count Dooku Consultants

Environmental Advisors to the Separatist Movement

"The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural".

[diggingthedirt]

They had a large NRA contract through the Tara environs and were based in Drogheda.

On a more positive note, SDNF Ltd (Speedy Digs No Finds) are rapidly expanding, so it's not all bad news. The IAI will be debating these new developments on Saturday, see below. I can't make it but would love to hear from someone who's going.

IAI SUMMER CONFERENCE 2009

The IAI summer conference will take place this Saturday 18th July at 9.30am at Morans Red Cow Hotel in Dublin.
This will be a one day seminar based around three sessions - please see list of speakers and running order below. A full programme will be available shortly.

For more information please contact iaireland@eircom.net

********************************************************



Registration 9:30 ? 10:00
NEW LEGISLATION AND THE EXPERT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (EAC)
Sean Kirwan (National Monuments Service)
Margaret Gowen (Consultant Archaeologist & EAC Member)
Discussion
*****************
Coffee
*****************
PRACTICE IN THE LIGHT OF CHANGING TIMES
Brian Duffy (Chief Archaeologist, National Monuments Service & EAC Member)
Conor Newman (Chairman, The Heritage Council & EAC Member)
C?il?n O?Drisceoil (Consultant Archaeologist)
Discussion
*****************
Lunch
*****************
R?n?n Swan (Acting Head of Archaeology, National Roads Authority)
Sarah Mc Cutcheon (Limerick County Council)
Andy Halpin (National Museum of Ireland)
Discussion
*****************
Coffee
*****************
PROSPECTS
Eoin Sullivan (Development Officer, IAI)
Gabriel Cooney (Department of Archaeology, UCD)
Linda Lynch (Archaeologist and Osteological Consultant)
Discussion
CLOSING REMARKS ? Finola O?Carroll, IAI Chairman


http://www.diggingthedirt.com

[darksider]

WOW ! thats quite a shock and a large company.

I used to work for them too, as I am sure quite a lot of people have!

I dont suppose from AUP that I can ask why they ceased trading




Count Dooku Consultants

Environmental Advisors to the Separatist Movement

"The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural".

[YellowPete]

THat is HERENDOUS


txt is
Mike