
Commercial – UK Life Sciences Labour Market Trends, April 2025
UK life sciences hit £3.2B in Q1 2025 investment, driven by AI, policy shifts, and rising demand for sales talent in Cambridge, Oxford, and London.
UK life sciences hit £3.2B in Q1 2025 investment, driven by AI, policy shifts, and rising demand for sales talent in Cambridge, Oxford, and London.
The UK Life Sciences labour market is undergoing major shifts, with AI adoption, regulatory reforms, and regional realignment driving demand for new skills. London leads the resurgence, while nationwide hiring trends reflect growing confidence in the MHRA’s post-Brexit innovation agenda.
After a subdued 2023, the UK’s life sciences industry saw stabilised recruitment in 2024, with vacancies rising 5.2% year-on-year to 7,521.
The MedTech sector is slowly gathering steam again in the UK’s post-pandemic economy, and manufacturing is now being scaled up. For 2024 so far, the total number of vacancies has risen overall (both in scientific and non-scientific positions across MedTech).
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.
The Swiss life sciences industry, despite a challenging dip in job vacancies in 2023 (down by 31.4%), shows a robust rebound in 2024, with vacancies projected to rise by 24.1%. R&D roles have been notably active, reflecting global trends and a renewed push in innovation.