Biopharma and medical device companies continue to grow, with demand for R&D and regulatory experts surging. This update shares salary trends, high-demand roles, and future hiring outlooks.

Life Sciences Job Market H2 2025: Salaries, Trends & Skill Shortages

Steady Growth in Ireland’s Life Sciences Sector

Despite Global uncertainty the first half of 2025 has seen steady growth in Ireland’s life sciences sector, driven by investments and facility expansions. These developments have reinforced Ireland’s position as a global hub for Pharma, MedTech, and Biotech, with substantial capital flowing into manufacturing, R&D, and diagnostic infrastructure across regions such as Cork, Limerick, Wexford, and Dundalk. However, despite this momentum, recruitment activity—particularly among multinational companies—has remained slow. Many firms are taking a cautious approach to hiring, with lengthy recruitment processes and delays in onboarding.

Skills Shortages Persist

In 2025, skills shortages in Ireland’s life sciences sector have remained a critical challenge. Employers across pharmaceuticals, medtech, and biotech report persistent difficulties in filling key roles, particularly in areas such as quality assurance, validation, regulatory affairs, automation, and bioprocess engineering. The demand for highly specialised talent has intensified as new facilities come online, with many companies struggling to source experienced professionals locally. This has led to increased competition for skilled candidates, reliance on international recruitment, and a growing emphasis on flexible contract roles to bridge gaps in expertise.  

Sustainability and Environmental Focus

In 2025, we have seen a growing focus on hiring sustainability-related roles, driven by increasing regulatory requirements around ESG and environmental compliance. Companies are recruiting specialists in sustainability reporting, environmental health and safety, and green manufacturing practices to support compliance with standards like the CSRD. This trend reflects the sector’s commitment to integrating sustainable operations alongside innovation, with roles often requiring cross-functional expertise in both science and regulatory frameworks.

Key Skills in Demand

For the rest of 2025 we see ongoing high demand for candidates with skills in quality assurance, validation, regulatory affairs, automation engineering, and bioprocess manufacturing. Key roles include QA specialists, validation engineers, regulatory affairs managers, automation engineers, and bioprocess scientists. Expertise in data analytics and compliance remains essential to support the sectors growing and increasingly complex workflows.