The UK and Ireland life sciences sector continues to evolve, with changing demand for specialist skills, shifting talent availability and ongoing competition for experienced professionals. Here’s what the hiring market is looking like based on LinkedIn talent insights* across Biotech, Pharma and Medical Devices.
Recent market developments
▪️Millicent Pharma announced a multi-million-pound investment in its Larne manufacturing facility, increasing its workforce from 50 to 70 employees. Read more.
▪️Selene Clinical Research opened its first UK research centre in Birmingham, with plans to establish six NHS-integrated sites over the next five years. Read more.
▪️Vertex Pharmaceuticals confirmed plans for a new 155,000 sq ft research facility at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire. Read more.
1. Talent availability
Biotechnology: A total of 103,201 people are currently listed as working in the sector, with over 26,000 open to new job opportunities. The main locations where this talent is located (in order) are London, Dublin, Cambridge, Oxford and Manchester. The top 5 skills of people in the sector are:
▪️ Biotechnology
▪️ Molecular Biology
▪️ Biochemistry
▪️ Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
▪️ GxP
Medical Devices: A total of 111,894 people are currently listed as working in the sector, with over 22,000 open to new job opportunities. The main locations where this talent is located (in order) are London, Dublin, Manchester, Galway, and Leeds. The top 5 skills of people in the sector are:
▪️Medical Devices
▪️Product Development
▪️Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)
▪️Manufacturing
▪️Quality
Pharmaceuticals: A total of 211,410 people are currently listed as working in the sector, with over 60,000 open to new job opportunities. The main locations where this talent is located (in order) are London, Manchester, Dublin, Cork and Cambridge. The top 5 skills of people in the sector are:
▪️Pharmaceutics
▪️Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)
▪️GxP
▪️Pharmaceutical Sales
▪️Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)
2. Hiring trends
Biotechnology: More than 13,500 people moved to a new job in the sector within the last year.
Jobs Advertised: 1,600+. The top 5 functions hiring is happening across are Research, Engineering, Operations, Sales and Project Management. Top hiring locations in the Biotechnology sector are:
▪️London
▪️Dublin
▪️Oxford
▪️Cambridge
▪️Maidenhead
Medical Devices: More than 13,000 people moved to a new job in the sector within the last year.
Jobs Advertised: 1,250+. The top 5 functions hiring is happening across are Sales, Engineering, Operations, Research and Information Technology. Top hiring locations in the Medical Device sector are:
▪️London
▪️Dublin
▪️Cork
▪️Oxford
▪️Galway
Pharmaceuticals: More than 22,000 people moved to a new job in the sector within the last year.
Jobs Advertised: 2,200+. The top 5 functions hiring is happening across are Research, Operations, Engineering, Sales and Legal. Top hiring locations in the Pharmaceutical sector are:
▪️London
▪️Cork
▪️Cambridge
▪️Dublin
▪️Slough
So, what does this mean for employers and job seekers?
For employers, the data highlights a strong but competitive talent market. There is a significant pool of professionals open to opportunities, but specialist skills and experienced candidates remain in demand. For those looking for a new role, continued movement across the sector and thousands of advertised roles indicate that opportunities remain available, particularly across research, engineering, operations, sales and other specialist functions.
*The figures in this article are based on LinkedIn Talent Insights and information professionals have listed on their profiles. They represent a snapshot of the market for November 2026 and can change daily as profiles, roles and availability are updated. You can view our October report for comparison here.
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