Canada’s Archaeology Workforce Crisis
An Invisible Bottleneck Canada is widely known for its vast landscapes, Indigenous heritage, and deep archaeological record stretching back more than 15,000 years. Yet behind the scenes of construction projects, mining operations, and infrastructure development lies a growing problem: Canada has too few professional archaeologists to meet national demand. This shortage is no longer only a cultural issue—it has become an economic one. Archaeologists play a legally required role in land development, environmental assessments, and heritage preservation. When there are not enough qualified professionals available, projects slow down, costs rise, and both public and private sectors feel the impact. Why Archaeologists Matter to the Economy In Canada, archaeology is tightly linked to economic activity. Before roads, pipelines, housing developments, wind farms, or mines can be...