Global Life Science hiring increases nearly 4% during Q1 2012

Reduced hiring levels in Outsourcing and Services sector offset by modest gains in Pharma/Biotech and Medical Device

WEST ORANGE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Overall global hiring within the ZRG Global Life Science Index was up 3.7% for the quarter, finishing at a 79.1 level, the second highest level over the last 8 quarters. Pharma had its highest hiring level in the history of the index while the Medical Device sector reversed on two straight quarters of declines by posting a 6.8% rise in hiring. Outsourcing and Services was the only sector with a quarterly decline in hiring activity but remained at near a three year high.

What’s Hot?

• Medical Device in Asia Pacific – up 102% quarter over quarter
• Pharma in EMEA - Up 25% in the quarter
• Regulatory / Quality / Clinical Roles Globally – Up 15% in the quarter and still this job function is highest in demand, with nearly all of the increase from the pharma sector

What’s Not?

• R&D hiring dropped 25% in the quarter
• Sales and Marketing Roles globally – down 5%
• North America Outsourcing and CRO hiring is slowing
• Manufacturing roles remain scarce at only 4.4% of all hiring

EMEA also showed a return to hiring with an 18% jump from Q4 levels, reversing the trend of two straight down quarters. Within EMEA, Pharma was up along with the Outsourcing sector, while Device and Diagnostics was flat. Asia Pacific showed a big jump in new job opportunities, posting a 17% increase and ending the quarter at the highest level of hiring in the history of the index. For APAC, the big story was medical device growth. The Medical Device Sector in Asia Pacific doubled the number of jobs within the index companies in the quarter with Philips and Siemens providing nearly all of the hiring. The war for talent will intensify in the region as the skills sets sought for many of the technical roles are difficult to find. While Device and Diagnostics roles were up in this area, the Outsourcing/ CRO roles were flat and Pharma was down. Hiring activity in the Americas decreased by 10% but was at its third highest level of the past two years. Commercial hiring remained soft as most companies look to keep sales forces lean while Quality, Process Development and I.T. continued in demand.

About ZRG Partners

ZRG Partners, Inc. is a global authority on talent management issues in the Life Science, Pharmaceutical and Medical markets. ZRG provides its clients with specialized global market expertise in executive recruitment, consulting and advisory work with a focus on data and analytics to drive great business decisions.

For press requests or for permission to use this data in other media form, contact Larry Hartmann in the United States at 201-560-9900 x222. For a full copy of the report, go to www.zrgpartners.com.