Archaeologists

The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that employment for archaeologists will grow about as fast as the average for all other occupations through 2032. Since the academic job market is poor, most new jobs in the near future will probably be nonteaching positions in cultural resource management firms, consulting firms, research institutes, corporations, and federal, state, and local government agencies. Among the factors contributing to this growth is increased environmental, historic, and cultural preservation legislation. Archaeologists will be needed on construction projects to ensure that builders comply with federal regulations regarding the handling and preservation of archaeological and historical artifacts. There is also particular demand for people with the ability to write environmental impact statements.

Overall, the number of job applicants for university faculty positions will be greater than the number of openings available. Competition will be great even for those with doctorates who are seeking faculty positions, and many will find only temporary or nontenured jobs.