Biotech – UK Life Sciences Labour Market Trends, November 2024
EU Biotech Vacancies Surge with Strong 2024 Growth
Key findings include:
- Scientific vacancies in the UK are expected to increase by 17.9% year-on-year.
- Denmark sees the most considerable YoY change, with vacancies growth by 88%.
- The Medical Affairs & Medical Information are expected to see an 82.9% increase.
- Cytiva is forecasted to see a remarkable 183.4% growth.
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The UK biotechnology sector is undergoing significant change as 2024 ends, driven by increased corporate venture capital and private equity funding. This financial boost has spurred activity, with investments in startups and scaling initiatives creating new jobs despite lingering post-COVID challenges. Scientific vacancies in the UK are expected to surpass 1,000, reaching approximately 1,236—a 17.9% year-on-year increase. In the EU, scientific vacancies are projected to grow by 42.4%, reaching 3,835. Demand for skilled professionals remains strong, particularly in healthcare innovation. Companies are realigning strategies, leading to emerging roles in research, production, and regulation. This renewed focus on innovation offers a dynamic outlook for growth and employment in the industry.
This is according to the latest UK Life Sciences Labour Market Trends report by Cpl and market data analysts Vacancysoft.
Denmark is leading in scientific vacancies across Europe
At the country level, the EU’s biotech sector has seen a substantial rise in scientific vacancies, with a 42.4% increase compared to last year. This marks a reversal of the declining, trend, following a 40.2% drop in vacancies in the 2022 to 2023 period.
Germany is once again leading in scientific vacancies within the EU biotech sector, with a projected 55.7% year-on-year increase for 2024. This growth is expected to bring the total to around 1,302 vacancies, representing a 33.9% share of EU biotech job openings—a modest rise from the 31% share held in 2023. However, Denmark is projected to see the most significant year-on-year change, with an estimated 88.0% increase, raising its share from 7.2% in 2023 to 9.5% in 2024. This growth is mirrored in Copenhagen, where vacancies are expected to reach 271 in 2024, marking a 66.4% increase from the previous year. Copenhagen’s share is also set to rise slightly, from 6.1% in 2023 to 7.1% in 2024.
The largest year on year increase is seen in Medical Affairs
The Medical Affairs & Medical Information division is expected to experience the largest year-on-year growth among the top five, with an 82.9% increase in vacancies, likely driven by a growing emphasis on medical information and patient safety in a dynamically shifting regulatory environment. Drug Manufacturing is also forecasted to witness substantial growth, with a 61.5% year-on-year change, positioning it as a critical area for expanding production capabilities.
Quality Assurance, projected as the second-largest sector, stands out with a significant 55.2% YoY growth, bringing vacancies to over 1,000 (approximately 1,096). This increase suggests a heightened focus on maintaining standards and regulatory compliance as the sector stabilises post-pandemic.
Cytiva shows the most remarkable growth
Cytiva is forecasted to experience the most remarkable growth, with a projected year-on-year change of 183.4%, translating to around 133 new scientific roles. This large spike in vacancies is likely a result of Cytiva’s intensified investment in bioprocessing technology, aiming to take advantage of the advancements in the manufacturing processes—a trend that is becoming increasingly important to the biotech sector’s future.
BioNTech is projected to lead the biotech sector with an impressive 26.3% year-on-year increase in vacancies, resulting in around 648 job openings. This growth displays BioNTech’s strong market position as it is continuing to expand beyond the COVID-19 vaccine demand, particularly by reinforcing its research and development teams.
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