Employer Resources
Insights to help you hire and manage your workforce
BioSpace’s 2026 U.S. Life Sciences Employment Outlook examines the state of the biopharma workforce amid ongoing funding pressure, elevated layoffs and cautious hiring sentiment, while highlighting early signals of stabilization and cautious optimism for the year ahead.
Labor Market Trends
BioSpace data show job postings live increased quarter over quarter, while layoffs fell year over year.
Biopharma professionals need to understand today’s job market and how they can stand out to position themselves for success. Three talent acquisition and recruiting experts discussed these topics in a BioSpace webinar, from the importance of contract work to the value of an advocate.
Last month, biopharmas let go or projected they would let go of less than 500 people combined, based on BioSpace estimates, down almost 1,000 from January 2025. Still, competition for open jobs remains strong, with employed and unemployed biotech and pharma professionals eyeing their next roles.
BioSpace has named 50 life sciences companies to its 2026 Best Places to Work list. AbbVie, Amneal Pharmaceuticals and BridgeBio executives share what makes their organizations special.
BioSpace’s third report on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in life sciences examines dramatic shifts in attitude around diversity initiatives.
BioSpace has created guidelines on how biopharma organizations, large and small, can effectively support employee resource groups (ERGs), encouraging both their creation and ongoing participation.
In the final instalment of our Diversity in Life Sciences series, BioSpace provides life sciences organizations with practical solutions and benchmarking data to strengthen their DEI initiatives.
How does age affect employees’ experiences in the workplace? This report examines the intersection of age along with gender and other demographics.
RECRUITING
Seven in 10 U.S. hiring managers say their company usually considers employing overqualified applicants, according to a survey from Express Employment Professionals and The Harris Poll. However, 75% of employers believe such hires struggle to stay motivated in lower-level roles.
Building and scaling biopharma workforces can go beyond recruiting permanent employees to include fractional workers and consultants. A Slone Partners executive discusses how these blended workforces operate, highlighting the strategic benefits.
Given today’s available local talent pool, biopharma companies are less likely to turn toward international job candidates, according to a talent acquisition expert. Findings from two recent BioSpace LinkedIn polls underscore the issue.
While the job market is tough for life sciences professionals right now, it won’t always be. Employers must continue striving to create fulfilling work environments, as the market won’t always be in their favor, say biopharma execs.
BioSpace spoke to talent acquisition leaders about how they think artificial intelligence will shape the future of their function.
WEBINARS
This discussion features DEIB leaders from California Life Sciences, MassBio, Eli Lilly and Takeda. We explore changing attitudes in the life sciences workforce, if organizations are adjusting either their DEIB or communication strategies, and how evolving philosophies around DEIB are impacting human resources and talent acquisition activities.