Publications:
Main Document 2.77 MB

2004

This report is designed to ‘help archives recruit, retain, support and develop a workforce appropriate to current and future service needs’ (Resource).
The aim of the report is to provide the archives sector with information about its key workforce issues and make recommendations for improvements.

The research investigated the following areas:
• Employers’ needs and the course curriculum
• Career choice
• Recruitment and selection
• The retention of professional staff
• Training and development
• Career aspirations and opportunities
• Leadership and succession planning

In the course of this research data have been gathered which show that there are a number of interrelated issues which are having a negative influence on the sector in terms of: attracting people to work in the sector; developing employees to meet employers needs (since there is now very limited scope to increase the content of professional qualification courses and the provision of training varies greatly across the sector); balancing the supply of and demand for employees; facilitating career progression and professional development. There is a skills gap in terms of leadership within the sector and confusion about sectoral leadership. Due to the overlap between some issues a number of areas have been combined within this report.