Latest Data: 2020
This page examines the ethnicities of UK professional archaeologists.
Highlights
Share this Research
Professional archaeologists are predominantly white and have been for as long as data has been collected. The 2020 data comes from the individual survey, while previous years’ data came from employers.
Since 2002, the UK workforce (people aged 16-64 and that are employed), has become less white over time, while archaeology has essentially stayed the same. The small changes in 2020 for archaeologists are within the margin of error and we can not say that an increase of 1% in the number of BAME archaeologists is the result of a change in the sector or a result of that year’s sampling.
Table 2.6.1: Ethnicity of professional archaeologists from 2002 to 2020 and UK ethnicity of those working between the ages of 16-64 (ONS A09: Labour market status by ethnic group) Note UK 2019-20 figures are from Oct-Dec 2019, the most recent data.
| Ethnicity | 2002-03 | 2007-08 | 2012-13 | 2019-20 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Count | % | Count | % | Count | % | |
| White | 2,539 | 99% | 2,105 | 99% | 830 | 99% | 978 | 97% |
| Mixed / Multiple ethnic groups | 4 | 0% | 0% | 2 | 0% | 15 | 1% | |
| Asian / Asian British / Black / African / Caribbean / Black British | 12 | 0% | 8 | 0% | 3 | 0% | 5 | 0% |
| Other ethnic group | 10 | 0% | 6 | 0% | 2 | 0% | 8 | 1% |
| White – UK working 16-64 | 26,462,855 | 93% | 26,913,350 | 91% | 26,841,247 | 90% | 28,975,891 | 88% |
| All other ethnic groups combined – UK working 16-64 | 1,887,061 | 7% | 2,598,446 | 9% | 3,117,605 | 10% | 3,991,448 | 12% |
| Total (n=) | 2,565 | 2,119 | 837 | 1,006 | ||||
Download this table:
Image Credit
Tinsley school by Wessex Archaeology via Flicker CC BY NC 2.0
Version control and change log
As a digital document we may update parts of this page in the future to account for corrections or the need for clarification. Please use the version when citing:
Version: 1.0
Change log: no changes
CREDITS
Title: Profiling the Profession
2020 Authors: Kenneth Aitchison, Poppy German and Doug Rocks-Macqueen
Published by: Landward Research Ltd
Version Date: 2021
ISBN: 978-0-9572452-8-0
DOI: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.14333387
License: CC BY SA 4.0 for all text and figures. Header images are from different sources check image credits for their specific licensing.
2020 funders: Historic England, with support from Historic Environment Scotland, CIfA and FAME.
Questions about Profiling the Profession: enquiries@landward.eu