Understanding the Forecasted Labor Shortage: Undergraduate Views of Archaeological Careers

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

There is a projected dearth of qualified archaeological professionals in the coming decade. As such, it becomes essential to discover the underlying causes of a lack of interest in pursuing a career in archaeology among individuals otherwise interested in the field. Social cognitive career theory posits that self-efficacy, expected outcomes, and goal mechanisms lead to a student’s career-relevant interest leading to their career aspiration. Could a deficiency in these factors caused by marginalization be affecting interest? Using a mixed-methods approach, we explore the career interests of undergraduate students taking introductory archaeology courses to understand perceptions of careers in archaeology with students, both majors and nonmajors, enrolled at a regional comprehensive institution in the Midwest. Participating students completed surveys at the beginning and end of these courses. Some students volunteered to be interviewed regarding their class experience, career interests, and perceptions of archaeology. Survey results reveal that there are no significant changes in career interest from the beginning to the end of an introductory course in archaeology. Interview data indicate that taking the course gave students a better appreciation for archaeology and none of those interviewed felt less likely to pursue a career in the discipline.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 40348.0