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.
The study offers critical insights for industry stakeholders, educators, and policymakers seeking to ensure that resources, programs, and curricula are strategically aligned to meet the evolving needs of Canada’s growing biomanufacturing sector.
This is the second report based on that study. Titled Navigating the Talent Landscape: Labour Market Information Shaping the Biomanufacturing Workforce, it delivers essential insights and actionable strategies to help employers tackle persistent talent shortages, skill gaps, and barriers to training—all of which pose risks to the sector’s rapid expansion.
Key findings
- Manufacturing/Production Technician Demand: 50% of new hires will be in these roles, requiring specialized skills.
- Barriers to Training: Financial constraints and limited time prevent many employers from upskilling their workforce.
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI): Only one-third of companies have fully implemented DEI policies, creating untapped potential for workforce expansion.
- Critical Skills Shortages: The industry’s talent pipeline is limited, emphasizing the need for alternative hiring strategies.
Solutions to address these challenges:
- Strengthening industry-academic partnerships to align training with real-world needs.
- Expanding talent pipelines by recruiting internationally educated professionals and underrepresented groups.
- Investing in hands-on training programs to ensure new hires are job ready.
- Collaborating with government and training providers to make specialized training more accessible and cost-effective.
Download the full report
Additional Information
Market Study Launch Announcement
Market Study Initial Insights Announcement
BIOVECTRA Case Study 4-pager
BIOCVECTRA Case Study
BIOVECTRA Case Study Results Announcement
Report: Biomanufacturing Workforce Strategies
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