Sherri's Blogs

As part of my commitment to keeping you informed, I’ve compiled the latest data and insights on the pharma and biotech job market below. While the news may be sobering, if you’re searching for a new role and finding it tough, please know: it’s not YOU, it’s the MARKET. Stay persistent, be strategic, and remember: the right opportunity is out there.

Current State of the Pharma and Biotech Job Market (Mid-2025)

The pharmaceutical and biotech job market in the U.S. remains challenging and highly competitive as of mid-2025. Despite record-high overall life sciences employment in 2024 and continued scientific innovation, hiring activity has not rebounded to pre-2022 levels, and the sector is experiencing a period of cautious restraint.

Key Trends in 2025

• Hiring Freezes and Lean Teams: Many companies, especially in biotech, are still operating with lean teams and have kept hiring freezes in place, only recruiting for absolutely critical or highly specialized roles.
• Fierce Competition: There are more candidates per open role than in recent years, with job postings down 20% year-over-year in Q1 2025 and applications up over 90% (this number is ASTOUNDING). The market is strongly tilted in favor of employers, and even experienced professionals are facing longer job searches and more rejections.
• Fewer Remote Roles: The pandemic-era trend of remote work has sharply reversed, with most employers now favoring candidates near major biotech hubs (Boston, San Diego, San Francisco), disadvantaging those outside these regions.
• Layoffs and Underemployment: The sector saw about 24,000 layoffs in 2024, following tens of thousands in 2023. Many professionals are underemployed or accepting roles below their experience level just to stay in the market.
• Selective Growth Areas: While overall hiring is slow, there is still targeted demand for roles in bioinformatics, regulatory affairs, clinical research, bioprocess engineering, and medical science liaisons, especially those with expertise in AI, gene/cell therapy, and advanced analytics.
• Entry-Level Challenges: Opportunities for recent graduates and junior professionals remain scarce, with most openings requiring highly specific experience.
• Companies Hiring: Companies that are getting drug approvals and preparing for launch. A lot of these companies have either significantly scaled back in 2023 and 2024 and don’t have enough manpower to launch without building commercial teams back out to launch, or haven’t built the initial team, waiting until close to the PDUFA date, or actual drug approval in worst case scenarios.

Anticipated Market for the Remainder of 2025

• Cautious Optimism, Slow Recovery: Most analysts and industry experts do not expect a significant turnaround in hiring until 2026. The remainder of 2025 will likely see continued cautious hiring, with companies prioritizing mission-critical roles and maintaining high standards for new hires.
• Innovation-Driven Hotspots: There will be select pockets of opportunity in areas like AI-driven drug discovery, digital health, cell and gene therapy, and advanced biomanufacturing, but these are highly specialized and competitive.
• Employer’s Market: Companies will continue to have their pick of talent, and job seekers should expect longer search times and the need for highly targeted applications.
• Potential for Modest Growth: Some sources note a slight uptick in job postings in early 2025 and expect modest growth in the second half, but a broad recovery is unlikely before late 2025 or early 2026.

Summary Table

Aspect	Current State (Mid-2025)	Outlook for Remainder of 2025
Job Postings	Down 20% YoY; fewer openings than 2024	Modest growth possible, but slow overall
Competition	Fierce; more applicants per role	Remains high
Layoffs/Underemployment	Still ongoing; many underemployed	May persist
Remote Work	Sharply reduced; focus on biotech hubs	Trend likely to continue
In-Demand Roles	Bioinformatics, Regulatory, Clinical, Bioprocess, MSL	Niche, specialized roles prioritized
Entry-Level Market	Very limited opportunities	Unlikely to improve soon
Recovery Timeline	No major rebound expected until 2026	Cautious, selective hiring continues

BOTTOM LINE:
The pharma and biotech job market in the U.S. remains tight and highly competitive in 2025, with hiring focused on specialized, mission-critical roles and a strong preference for candidates in major industry hubs. Most experts anticipate that a true recovery and broader hiring rebound will not occur until 2026.

JOB SEEKERS:
There ARE jobs out there, and I see new hires announced daily. Focus your search on roles that align closely with your most recent experience. This is where you’ll stand out. If you need support, Kemp’s Connections offers resume/LinkedIn profile services and interview prep. Email me for details.

EMPLOYERS:
This market brings challenges for you as well. With record applicant volumes, the process can bottleneck and delay hiring. Kemp’s Connections can help you streamline your search, reduce risk, and access top-tier talent quickly. If you’d like to discuss your talent acquisition needs, we’re here to help. Kemp’s Connections specializes in all levels and roles in Commercial, C-Suite, Medical Affairs, Regulatory Affairs, Human Resources and High-Level Executive Assistants and more.

Stay resilient, stay connected, and let me know how we can support you.