The results of our 2021 international online survey of 419 early career researchers in archaeology are now available Open Access on European Journal of Archaeology:
A Precarious Future: Reflections from a Survey of Early Career Researchers in Archaeology
Key findings:
- Postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers are passionate about their job but pessimistic about their chances to stay long-term in academia. 84.2% of respondents reported a lack of future career development options.
- High levels of stress related to financial insecurity (87.1% of respondents), with 37.3% of MA holders and 32.8% of PhD holders not considering themselves financially independent.
- A chronic lack of support and opportunities for early career researchers. Less than half of the respondents were offered special assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Over two third of the respondents (68.0%) were female, highlighting the asymmetrical nature of the challenges faced.
- Edifying levels of bullying and discrimination in the workplace, particularly targeting women and minorities, reflected in the over 180 open-ended comments received.