Medical Affairs- UK Life Sciences Labour Market Trends, November 2025
UK Medical Affairs Roles Drop 9.6% Amid Pricing Pressure
Key findings include:
- Medical Affairs vacancies down 9.6% as pricing pressure bites
- London stable with only 3% dip in hiring
- Wales is hiring up 116%, the strongest regional performer
- CROs and biotechs continue to expand their hiring footprint
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Medical Affairs roles decline under global pricing pressure
The UK’s life sciences hiring landscape remains under strain as global pricing policies and local cost controls weigh on margins. Medical Affairs vacancies are projected to fall by 9.6% in 2025 as multinationals such as AstraZeneca and Merck cut back on UK expansion. Trump’s “most favoured nation” pricing rules in the US and the UK’s NHS clawback scheme have triggered a cautious hiring climate. Still, AI investment is cushioning the impact. Demand is rising for hybrid scientific-data roles, while the UK government’s £74 million life sciences fund is helping early-stage innovation persist. Scientific hiring is slowing, but core demand remains intact across specialist functions.
London holds steady as regional pressures grow
Greater London remains the epicentre of UK Medical Affairs hiring, accounting for 52.6% of national vacancies. After a 33.6% rise in 2024, hiring in the capital is expected to dip just 3% in 2025. London’s density of global HQs, universities and investors continues to insulate it from wider cuts. The South of England is forecast to fall 15.8%, while the North drops 31.4%, both hit harder by tightening margins. In contrast, Wales stands out, with hiring projected to rise 116% amid renewed biotech activity. Sector-wide, pharma hiring is set to fall 12.9%, while CRO vacancies are expected to increase 15.5% this year.
Scientific oversight holds firm as AI reshapes roles
While Medical Affairs vacancies are falling overall, core scientific oversight remains steady. Scientific Affairs roles are expected to decline by only 6.8%, still making up 51.9% of total hiring. Medical Advisors continue to rise, with vacancies forecast to increase by 11.9% in 2025 as demand for expertise in biologics, rare diseases, and combination therapies grows. AI is reshaping support roles. Medical Information jobs are projected to fall by 39.2% and Medical Communications by 28.5% as automation handles more content and routine queries. Scientific Advisor roles are also expected to drop 31.4%, reflecting funding constraints in early-stage biotech and longer project timelines.
CROs and mid-sized firms lead hiring growth.
Employer-level data shows a sharp divide between large pharma and more agile firms. AstraZeneca and GSK are projected to cut Medical Affairs hiring by 22.2% and 10% respectively, in 2025. Novartis, by contrast, expects a 54.3% increase, building on a 366.7% surge in 2024. Specialist players are gaining traction. Ipsen and Astellas are forecast to increase hiring by 48.2% and 20%, respectively, driven by investments in oncology and rare-disease portfolios. CROs remain key beneficiaries of outsourcing. IQVIA hiring is up 20%, and Medpace leads with a projected 440% increase. The centre of hiring gravity is clearly shifting toward outsourcing specialists.
See where the real growth is happening in Life Sciences hiring. Download the report for the full picture.
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