Building an archivist: exploring career paths in our profession since 2008 (an Irish perspective)

Abstract

Since the financial crisis of 2007–2008, newly qualified archivists in Ireland have increasingly found themselves working for years in short-term contract positions, augmented in many cases by volunteering at repositories or by taking government-sponsored internships. This article explores the ways in which the jobs market has changed in Ireland for archivists and records managers from 2008 to 2014, how the lack of employment stability has impacted new archives professionals in both personal and professional terms, and what, if any, future steps might be necessary or useful to counter the effects on both.

Keywords:

• Archives
• Ireland
• graduates

Acknowledgements

I would like to acknowledge Dr Elizabeth Mullins, Dr Alexandrina Buchanan and Tricia Phillips for their time and effort in supplying me with their perspectives on the issues raised in this research. I would also like to thank my colleagues at UCD Archives, Orna Somerville and Kate Manning, for their support and assistance in the research and writing of this article.

Notes

1. http://www.theguardian.com/business/2008/sep/25/recession.ireland.

2. http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0930/108605-economy/.

3. http://www.irishtimes.com/news/full-text-of-government-statement-1.867663.

4. http://www.indexmundi.com/g/g.aspx?c=ei&v=74.

5. http://www.heritagecouncil.ie/news-media/media/press-releases/irelands-heritage-sector-decimated-by-punitive-cuts/?L=uxw%60qer.

6. http://www.finance.gov.ie/news-centre/press-releases/implementation-moratorium-recruitment-and-promotions-public-service.

7. http://www.irishtimes.com/news/over-half-of-interns-on-jobbridge-find-work-1.555751.

8. http://www.legal-island.com/questions-raised-over-tesco-eligibility-for-intern-scheme.

9. http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/wanted-phd-grad-to-work-for-50-29924264.html.

10. http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/hse-defends-jobbridge-post-seeking-psychologist-1.2322824.

11. http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/teachers-warned-off-taking-jobbridge-positions-349629.html.

12. http://www.nationalarchives.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Report-of-the-Director-of-the-National-Archives-2012.pdf, 7.

13. http://www.nerinstitute.net/research/how-did-austerity-affect-ireland/.

14. http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/hse-made-cuts-of-27bn-during-recession-263841.html.

15. http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/irish-film-board-urges-reverse-in-recession-cuts-to-sector-1.2495447.

16. http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/public-sector-pay-falls-4275-per-week-in-3-years-223535.html.

17. Hardiman, Niamh, and Muiris MacCarthaigh, “How Governments Retrench in Crisis: The Case of Ireland,” UCD Geary Institute Discussion Paper Series (September 2013).

18. http://www.finfacts.ie/irishfinancenews/article_1019314.shtml.

19. https://www.oecd.org/ireland/Ireland-action-plan-for-jobs-review.pdf.

20. Barrett, Alan, and Seamus McGuinness, “The Irish Labour Market and the Great Recession”, CESifo DICE Report 2/2012 (7 August 2012).

21. http://www.hays.ie/press-releases/HAYS_163705.

22. “The Solicitors’ Profession: Contribution to the Irish Economy”, Law Society of Ireland (November 2014).

23. http://www.irishjobs.ie/careeradvice/employment-trends-in-accountancy-finance-for-the-first-half-of-2014/.

24. http://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/ireland-one-of-the-toughest-countries-in-europe-to-get-a-job-1.2485983.

25. https://www.surveymonkey.com/collect/?collector_id=71045198.

26. Archival consultancies generally provide professional archival services to organisations and private companies, as well as to the government and semi-state bodies.

27. ARA are unable to provide full details regarding geographical location of new enrolees.

28. http://www.heritagecouncil.ie/jobs-tenders/jobs-tenders/show-article/article/assistant-archivist-internship-national-museum-of-ireland/?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=1156&cHash=bff02f11c93c0cb397d33bd2650965a9.

29. ARA have confirmed via email that there will be no unemployed/unwaged rate for the 2016 Conference.

30. Richard J. Cox, “Unpleasant Things: Teaching Advocacy in Archival Education Programs,” Interactions: UCLA Journal of Education and Information Studies 5, no. 1 (2009).

31. Jane Moloney, “Advocacy and the Archivist: Seeking a New Skill Set or a Different Mindset,” (2013).