How are vacancies faring in England and Wales’ life sciences industry? Which regions are experiencing the biggest uplifts? What are the most wanted skills? Which sectors and firms have increased their hiring levels of these professionals?
Written in partnership with Cpl Life Sciences, this report reviews recruitment trends for scientific clinical jobs in England and Wales’ Life Sciences industry. It observes the trends of the annual total, examines in which sectors and roles recruitment is rising, breaks down the performance by region, and presents the hiring activity of the top firms.
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UK’s Life Sciences Labour Market in 2022,
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South West – Regional Labour Market Trends
Hiring conditions in the South West have improved at the start of 2026, though the pace remains controlled. Vacancies rose by 7.9% compared to the previous quarter, returning close to levels seen at the start of 2025. This suggests demand has stabilised, with employers resuming hiring where required rather than expanding broadly
Engineering – UK Life Sciences Labour Market Trends, May 2026
Engineering hiring across the UK pharmaceuticals sector is entering a period of adjustment, with vacancies forecast to fall by 31.5% in 2026 following strong growth of 19.2% in 2025. The shift reflects a move away from expansion-led hiring towards a more efficiency-driven approach, as organisations respond to cost pressures and evolving operating models.
North West – Regional Labour Market Trends, March 2026
The North West enters 2026 from a position of relative strength, following a 7.7% increase in vacancies in 2025. However, that growth was far from smooth. Hiring peaked in March, rising 19.2% month-on-month, before falling 16.0% by August. Despite these swings, overall demand remained resilient, with the region accounting for 55.1% of all northern vacancies.
