2013 Archival Program Graduates and the Entry-Level Job Market

Abstract

Since the 2008 financial crisis and the resulting economic downturn, there have been numerous discussions in the archival profession about the relationship between graduate archival education and the entry-level archival job market. This study is an attempt to provide contextual data to these important discussions. To generate the data, 2013 graduates of archival programs were surveyed about job placement, academic backgrounds, the types of jobs obtained, and perceptions of their professional positions. The results of the survey present a complicated picture for the archives profession, including a placement rate of 71.7%, a high reliance on part-time and temporary positions, and a perceived lack of appropriate compensation for professional positions. Additionally, it is apparent that further data collection and research on this important topic are needed.