Addressing the Skills Gap in Life Sciences

The life sciences industry is rapidly growing, but it is facing skill gaps that need to be addressed to allow it to reach its full potential.

According to a 2022 life sciences and pharma talent trends report, 33% of C-suite and senior leaders in the life sciences and pharmaceuticals sector agree that talent scarcity is a major pain point. This problem is widespread, with the UK also experiencing a skills shortage that threatens to stall the industry’s growth.

There are particularly significant skill gaps in digital and computational skills, as well as industrial, economic, and clinical research. 

This article outlines effective hiring strategies that can help life sciences organizations address skill gaps within their teams and businesses.

Understanding the skills gaps in the life sciences industry

Statistics from the talent trends report highlight key skill gaps in the life sciences industry and how they impact critical research and development processes.

Demand for life sciences products is expected to grow more rapidly than global GDP in the coming years. In response, 45% of talent leaders note that they are hiring primarily to avoid talent shortages from hindering their organizations’ progress. Moreover, the report found that 67% of pharmaceutical and life sciences companies believe that reskilling their current employees is an effective way to address and mitigate skill gaps.

It currently takes 105 days on average to fill a non-executive life sciences position in the US, leading to financial losses of $500 per open role per day. Therefore, intentional talent strategies are crucial for setting life sciences businesses on the path to success.

Supporting mobility between sectors

Supporting mobility between sectors plays a vital role in closing skill gaps. Allowing professionals to transition across sectors within life sciences - such as from regulatory and legal services to pharmaceutical and medical device engineering - lets life sciences companies tap into a broader pool of talent. This is also an effective method for sharing interdisciplinary knowledge and developing key skills.

Selecting candidates with diverse backgrounds for open roles may also bring new perspectives into your organization, thereby fostering innovation and helping to meet growing demand.

Focus on transferable skills

Focusing on transferable skills is a powerful approach to bridging the skills gap. Instead of solely emphasizing sector-specific experience, prioritizing transferable skills enables professionals to adapt and thrive in new roles within the field.

The life sciences industry’s talent offers a range of transferable skills that can power future growth and innovation. These include analytical skills, leadership and teamwork abilities, problem-solving, written and oral communication skills, management skills, and scientific peer communication.

Additional soft skills to focus on in your talent acquisition strategy include critical thinking, problem-solving, and attention to detail.

Consider cultural fit

Look for candidates from other industries who align with your organization’s culture, values, and core mission. This alignment fosters employee engagement, retention, and overall job satisfaction, while creating a supportive working environment that benefits from diverse experiences and perspectives.

These candidates should also possess the transferable skills mentioned earlier, ensuring that they can perform effectively in their new roles without being hindered by common skill gaps.

Offer more flexibility

While not a priority for all candidates, flexible working arrangements -such as remote or hybrid work options - are valuable to skilled candidates and may give your organization an edge in the competitive talent landscape within life sciences.

Hire top talent with EPM Scientific

EPM Scientific is a leading specialist life sciences talent partner, offering you a wealth of expertise to help you find the best talent for your life sciences roles globally.

Submit a vacancy or request a call back from our team to find the right people to drive your organization forward.