Bucking the trend during these difficult financial times, the employment statistics for Egyptology graduates have seen an unexpected upturn in the last year, with more than half now finding employment within six months of graduating. Tesco is, for the fourth year running, the largest single employer of Egyptologists, with the William Hill chain of betting shops in second place. A spokesman for William Hill told us: "what we value most about Egyptology graduates is the combination of exceptionally high levels of self-confidence and exceptionally poor employment prospects".

Michael K. Thomas, Head of Recruitment for Tesco Harlow, said: "the supermarket industry is crying out for people with methodical approaches to the study of ancient languages, and if an applicant knows their Khafres from their Khufus, well we just can't get enough; they'll be managing a deli counter before you can say 'Zahi Hawass'".

There was one report in 2007-08 - as yet unconfirmed - of an Egyptology graduate finding employment as an Egyptologist. Independent research carried out by egyptastic.co.uk suggests that the individual in question had, in fact, reported to his friends that he was 'totally teaching Egyptology next year', having been told by his PhD supervisor that he might be required to cover an hour or two of supervisions per term.

Of the 48% of last year's crop of Egyptologists yet to find employment, 8 out of 10 have printed themselves business cards describing themselves as a 'Freelance Egyptologist' and are 'definitely going to get invited on to a dig somewhere next summer'.

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