BC Life Sciences Labour Market Intelligence Study
Fostering a Globally Competitive Life Sciences Ecosystem in BC
A new study launched February 13, 2024 shows BC’s life sciences sector needs a 10-fold increase in skilled talent in the coming years.
LSBC has led a province-wide labour market intelligence study creating a better understanding of the jobs and skills employers are looking for in BC’s dynamic life sciences sector.
The findings include an up-to-date workforce profile, labour demand and supply forecasts, a skills training assessment, and recommendations for sector-led strategies.
This information will benefit sector organizations and those that work with them, including post-secondary institutions and government, seeking to address labour challenges and make investment decisions.
Sector engagement a key to success
This labour market project could not have been done without government funding support and the strong engagement of our sector, which was a critical success factor in providing necessary workforce information, and developing by-sector, for-sector recommendations to address labour and training needs. We thank the over 125 organizations and participants of the study and government for funding this important labour market tool.
“BC’s life sciences sector has experienced record growth in part because of the talented, high calibre people that are working and conducting research here in our province. Our government is continuing to work with our partners, post-secondary institutions, research centres, and industry to ensure we have the highly skilled and qualified people needed to innovate and advance health care for British Columbians and the world.”
– Brenda Bailey, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation
“This is a pivotal moment for our sector to address the growing gap between the projected supply of skilled talent and what the market in British Columbia requires now and into the future. All of us in B.C.’s life sciences community look forward to working with partners across industry, academia and government to develop the necessary talent required for our sector to thrive and continue advancing science for the benefit of all Canadians across the country.”
-Helen Sheridan, Chief Human Resources Officer of STEMCELL Technologies and member of LMI governance committee
“Extensive engagement with leaders throughout the life sciences sector has enabled us to identify existing and emerging challenges, while aligning on strategic objectives and recommendations to ensure that British Columbia can attract, develop, and retain the talent we need, with the skills our ecosystem requires to maintain record growth,” says Wendy Hurlburt, president and CEO, Life Sciences BC, and executive lead of the project. “We thank the province for their ongoing support of our sector, and for funding this critical and timely labour market intelligence study to create a detailed understanding of our needs. We understand the work we need to do, and we look forward to the next step of immediately beginning to prioritize and implement the study’s recommendations.”
– Wendy Hurlburt, president and CEO of Life Sciences BC and executive project lead
The BC Life Sciences Labour Market Intelligence Study received input and oversight from a strong governance committee comprising industry, academic, and government members.
This project was funded through the Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Development Agreement as part of the Sector Labour Market Partnerships program with BC’s Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. Life Sciences BC hired KPMG LLP to assist with the report, including methodology.
The Sector Labour Market Partnerships program helps industry and employers understand and respond to labour market changes and provides funding to organizations within an economic sector, region, or population to develop projects that help respond to workforce challenges.
If you have any questions regarding this study, please email labourmarketstudy@lifesciencesbc.ca.
LINKS