Biotechnology Labour Market Trends Report Dec 23

04

Top Cities

04

Annual Totals Biotechnology Sector, Scientific vacancies, UK vs EU, 2021-2023 *Est

Top Cities Biotechnology Sector, Scientific vacancies, UK vs EU, 2021-2023 *Est

5,000

Cambridge

4,000

Dublin

Utrecht

3,000

Copenhagen

2,000

London

1,000

Bergisch Gladbach

2021

2022

2023*

200

400

600

800

Scientific UK

Scientific EU

2023*

2021

2022

Source: Vacancysoft Analytics

Source: Vacancysoft Analytics

*- Forecast 2023

*- Forecast 2023

Fig. 03

Fig. 04

From a country-level perspective, the UK’s biotech sector has encountered a significant reduction in scientific vacancies, with a 46.8% decrease compared to 2022. This marks a continuation of the declining trend, following a 9.7% drop in the 2021/22 period. By November 2023, the number of open scientific roles barely crossed 1000, with 1069 vacancies recorded. While the UK’s biotech sector struggles, the EU seems more resilient, experiencing a smaller decline of 39.1% in 2023 despite enjoying a robust 15% increase in the previous year. This differential decline further widens the gap between the UK and the EU, with the UK’s share of scientific roles in the biotech sector decreasing to 28.7% from 31.5% in 2022. The UK’s downward trajectory in market share has been consistent since 2020/21. The EU, on the other hand, has increased its share to 71.3%, indicating a stronger hold on the biotech sector’s scientific vacancies. These figures highlight the UK’s waning dominance in the European biotech landscape, which could be attributed to various factors, including post-Brexit challenges, funding disparities, and strategic differences in responding to global biotech trends.

The UK may trail behind the EU in total market share for scientific vacancies in biotechnology. Still, it stands out that Cambridge is maintaining its position as the leading city for the third consecutive year. However, Cambridge has not been spared by the sector’s downturn, seeing an almost 60% reduction in vacancies from the previous year, reducing its market share from 12.4% in 2022 to 8.7% in 2023. On the European front, Utrecht shows a remarkable 68.4% surge in job openings, propelling it to third place with a 5.1% market share, following closely behind a relatively stable Dublin. This city-level data reveals a decline in overall job openings, yet certain EU regions exhibit growth, potentially challenging Cambridge’s dominance. Half of the top 10 cities are poised to improve their market share compared to 2022, reflecting a realignment in the biotech landscape that might signal regional growth and diversification in the EU despite the overall vacancy contraction.

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