Global Pharma and Life Sciences Talent Report 2025

Rapid technology advances, regulatory shifts, and economic volatility are reshaping the global pharma and life sciences industry. From AI adoption to the increasing emphasis on sustainability, enterprises are navigating profound workforce changes. New roles are emerging in areas such as digital R&D, data-driven compliance, and advanced manufacturing, while legacy skills are gradually being phased out. At the same time, talent shortages are intensifying, pushing organizations to attract, retain, and upskill a diverse, digitally enabled workforce to sustain growth and innovation.

Across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, and contract services, digital agendas and evolving regulatory frameworks fueling distinct hiring challenges. Companies are rethinking their workforce strategies by balancing permanent and contingent talent, adopting skill-based hiring practices, and leveraging outsourcing partnerships to enhance agility. Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) and Contingent Workforce Management (CWM) are gaining momentum as enterprises look to streamline operations, while initiatives such as employer branding, early-career pipelines, and hire-train-deploy models are becoming critical differentiators in an increasingly competitive talent market.

This report delivers a comprehensive global and country-level perspective on evolving pharma and life sciences talent trends, talent acquisition maturity, and strategic priorities. It offers actionable insights to help enterprises strengthen talent strategies, optimize acquisition models, and build agile, future-ready workforces equipped to thrive in a rapidly transforming industry.