#Workforce Optimization #Safeguard Global #Pharma Talent

Analyzing Pharma Talent Hotspots in 2025

In a rapidly changing landscape, the pharmaceutical industry is facing an uphill battle when it comes to hiring specialized talent. Safeguard Global, a leader in global workforce enablement, has recently released its first Industry Intelligence Report, titled Top Countries for Hard-to-Fill Life Sciences Roles. This report has been crafted to assist pharmaceutical companies in navigating the complex world of talent acquisition by pinpointing key markets that offer a blend of essential skills, cost-effectiveness, and adherence to compliance regulations.

The Current Landscape

The pharmaceutical sector is currently experiencing tight growth cycles, with a value of $1.65 trillion in 2024, projected to soar to $2.35 trillion by 2030, according to research from Grand View Research. As major pharmaceutical firms look to accelerate their strategies for acquiring talent, the stakes are getting higher. An enlightening report by EY indicates that approximately two-thirds of revenue for these firms is expected to derive from deal-making in the near future. This makes the understanding of workforce costs versus potential revenue essential for success.

Insights from the Report

The report, enriched with insights gathered from Safeguard Global's in-country HR experts, provides a comprehensive overview of five critical roles that are often challenging to fill:

• - Machine Learning Engineers/Data Scientists
• - QA/Validation Engineers
• - Bioprocess, Process Development, and Automation Engineers
• - Clinical Pharmacologists and Translational Scientists
• - Clinical Project Managers and Operations Leads

Through this extensive analysis, crucial markets have emerged as talent reservoirs for these specialized roles.

For instance, it highlights that Montreal stands out for its concentration of academic deep-learning researchers, making it a budding hub for AI-enabled drug discovery and clinical trials. Portugal's pharmaceutical and biotech talent pool has also been on the rise, with a growth rate of approximately 2.2% since 2017, and it boasts a high level of English proficiency, ranking sixth globally.

Additionally, the Czech Republic is noted for its efficient clinical trial processes, averaging around 60-day approvals, which introduces cost advantages for trial operations. Puerto Rico also shines as it operates under full FDA oversight while maintaining competitive operational costs and possessing a bilingual workforce, vital for diverse clinical settings.

The Netherlands is distinguished by its efficient