Chief Healthcare Executive: talent scarcity worries life sciences and pharma.

July 18, 2022 Mike Smith

The skills gap in the life sciences and pharma industries is a top concern for C-Suite leaders in the sector. Around one-third of the respondents in Randstad Sourceright’s 2022 Talent Trends survey cite talent scarcity as a serious problem.

Of the leaders surveyed, 67% are investing in training and development in an effort to keep workers interested and engaged. Over 50% are putting money into reskilling to further combat talent scarcity. The majority (77%) agree that finding and keeping talent is top priority.

However, one hiring strategy being downplayed within the sector is a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). In fact, life sciences and pharma leaders emphasized DEI efforts the least when compared with other sectors. Given the already limited talent pool available, this oversight can exacerbate the problem. 

“Failing to win the race for those skills will be costly, but a strong focus on the talent experience — offering purposeful workplace culture, maximizing flexibility, and investing in diversity, equity and inclusion —– can help companies stand out,” says Mike Smith, global CEO of Randstad Sourceright.

See additional data points from the report in Chief Healthcare Executive and get your report to discover the four Talent Trends life sciences and pharma leaders need to act on now.

about the author

Mike Smith

As chief executive of Randstad Enterprise, Mike Smith intentionally drives a culture of innovation and collaboration across our Enterprise businesses to build long-term client relationships with the world’s largest corporations. He consistently brings Randstad's “tech and touch” thinking to client conversations to solve complex talent challenges and create sustainable business value and agility.

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