Biomanufacturing Workforce
Strategies

Overview

The Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL), in partnership with BioTalent Canada and Future Skills Centre (FSC), recently conducted an important market study identifying key workforce trends and emerging training and skills priorities. 

Key findings 

• Regulatory compliance and hands-on laboratory techniques rank as the most sought-after competencies, with 80% of employers prioritizing Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and 70% emphasizing laboratory proficiency. 
• Employers report that while new graduates possess strong theoretical knowledge, they often lack essential hands-on training in cleanroom operations, regulatory compliance, and aseptic techniques. 
• Skilled workers from adjacent fields such as pharmaceuticals and food manufacturing have transferable expertise, making targeted reskilling programs a valuable workforce solution. 
• Collaboration between post-secondary institutions, policymakers, and industry leaders is crucial to aligning training programs with real-world needs. 
• Despite recognizing the importance of training, many companies, especially SMEs, cite cost constraints, time limitations, and lack of accessible biomanufacturing-specific programs as significant challenges.