WESTBOROUGH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The ZRG Partners Global Life Science Hiring Index showed a meaningful jump in the first quarter of 2011, posting a 14.5% increase in new hiring opportunities worldwide. Overall, the outlook for the global markets showed an increased need for talent as the Index jumped from 67.5 to 77.3.
While all three major geographic regions amped up hiring, EMEA led all geographies with a 28% quarter-to-quarter increase. Of the three life science sectors tracked, Medical Device and Diagnostics took a leading position in growth with a sizzling 33% increase.
Larry Hartmann, Managing Partner of ZRG Partners, related, “It appears hiring for global life science firms is back in overdrive, driven by Medical Devices and Europe. After a few quarters of more restrained hiring in the Medical Devices sector, the indicators point to a newfound optimism shown by a 33% increase. Geographically, EMEA showed a meaningful jump in new jobs this quarter across all three sectors, with Asia Pacific close behind”.
R&D has returned as the biggest growth area, with a 37% increase, perhaps signaling a return to longer term investments that were delayed in the fourth quarter of 2010. Manufacturing jobs jumped 25% as well, with the majority of new positions in the Medical Device and Diagnostics arena. Regulatory, Clinical and Quality related jobs are becoming an employment juggernaut in the overall Index with continued new job growth of 8% this quarter but now representing close to 1/3 of all global employment opportunities across all three sectors.
With almost all functional areas posting growth in hiring, the only industry sector of the Index that did not grow was the Outsourcing and Services sector, which showed a 7.8% global decrease in hiring. Private Equity investment in the sector was also lower than in past quarters.
About ZRG Partners
ZRG Partners is a global authority on talent management issues within the Life Science, Pharmaceutical and Medical markets. ZRG provides its clients with specialized market expertise in executive recruitment, consulting, and advisory work with a focus on data and analytics to drive great business decisions.
For a full copy of the report, go to http://www.zrgpartners.com/Documents/Q12011.pdf