Increased Demand for Archaeologists in Italy

By Marta Di Donfrancesco

ROME (Reuters) – Archaeologists are in high demand in Italy thanks to a construction boom fueled by EU post-COVID recovery funds, according to Marcella Giorgio, head of the National Association of Archaeologists (ANA).

Chronic Issues in the Sector

Previously, ANA had highlighted chronic low pay and job insecurity in this crucial sector, especially given Italy’s rich archaeological history and its numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Rising Demand

Giorgio noted, “The request for archaeologists has become higher than the supply, growing so much that clients sometimes complain that it is difficult to find professionals.”

Notably, she mentioned that ten years ago, no one could have anticipated the boom spurred by EU recovery funds.

EU Recovery Funds

Italy is the largest recipient of the EU’s 800-billion-euro post-pandemic fund, with approximately 200 billion euros allocated to it.

According to the industry group Federcostruzioni, by the end of 2023, 59% of 45.6 billion euros spent by Italy went into the construction sector.

The disbursement of these funds will conclude in 2026.

Preventive Archaeology

Archaeologists are often needed at construction sites for preventive archaeology, requiring them to study locations and monitor work for potential historical discoveries.

Giorgio plans to present a report in November based on a survey of over 1,000 archaeologists in Italy, which has an estimated total of 5,000 to 6,000 archaeologists.

Concerns for the Future

Valentina Colagrossi, an activist from the advocacy group Mi Riconosci?, cautioned that this boom might be short-lived.

She emphasized the issues of job insecurity and low pay, particularly in construction site archaeology, where many companies offer less than 100 euros gross per day.

Colagrossi stated, “EU COVID recovery funds certainly led to an increase in jobs. Unfortunately, this is not always matched by an increase in the quality of work.”

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