Charlottetown, PE – February 26, 2025. The Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL), in partnership with BioTalent Canada and Future Skills Centre (FSC), is pleased to announce the release of its latest research report, “Future-Ready: Developing Key Competencies for Canada’s Biomanufacturing Workforce.” This comprehensive report reveals the most critical workforce-related challenges and actionable solutions to meet the talent needs of the country’s thriving biomanufacturing sector.
With the industry poised for continued expansion—requiring an estimated 65,000 additional workers by 2029, including 16,000 in biomanufacturing-specific roles—the report delivers a timely and strategic roadmap for upskilling talent, closing competency gaps, and fostering stronger industry-academic partnerships.
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.
Actionable Workforce Development Strategies
The report highlights the need for innovative, employer-driven training models to address skills gaps, with recommendations including:
- Expanding hands-on training in GMP and core biomanufacturing skills to accelerate workforce readiness
- Leveraging flexible learning formats, including a blend of self-directed online modules and in-person workshops, for a cost-effective approach that balances industry demands with employee learning needs.
- Developing reskilling initiatives focusing on biomanufacturing basics, cleanroom operations, and quality assurance to transition workers from adjacent industries.
- Enhancing collaboration between post-secondary institutions, industry, and policymakers to align training with real-world industry requirements.
“This report provides a clear, data-driven roadmap for strengthening Canada’s biomanufacturing talent pipeline. By investing in targeted training, reskilling programs, and hands-on technical skills training, we can ensure Canada remains a global leader in this rapidly growing sector.”
Penny Walsh-McGuire
CEO, CASTL
"This latest report by CASTL underscores a critical truth—Canadian biomanufacturing will only reach its full potential if we invest in a workforce that is as advanced as the infrastructure being built. Thanks to our valued partnership with CASTL, we are able to close skills gaps and align training with industry needs—equipping Canada to be a global leader in biomanufacturing.”
Rob Henderson
President and CEO, BioTalent Canada
“Biomanufacturing is a growing industry impacted by broader changes to immigration and trade policy, as well as the rapid progress of artificial intelligence and automation. This report highlights the importance of collaboration across the skills ecosystem and provides key insights to support the policy agenda and training program development across the sector.”
Noel Baldwin
Executive Director, Future Skills Centre
About the Report
This report, the first in a series of three examining Canada’s biomanufacturing workforce, was part of the CASTL-led Knowledge and Insights for Future Proofing Biomanufacturing Training project funded by the Government of Canada through the Future Skills program.
Future reports will explore labour market trends and the impact of emerging technologies on skills development.
This report is based on data from 50 employer surveys and 15 in-depth interviews, providing quantitative and qualitative insights into workforce challenges, hiring trends, and skill development needs within Canada’s biomanufacturing sector.
Media Inquiries:
Heidi Reinblatt
Director of Marketing and Communications, CASTL
heidi@castlcanada.ca
514-944-3487
Eglantine Ronfard
Director, Strategic Communications, FSC
eglantine.ronfard@torontomu.ca
647-262-3706
About CASTL
The Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) is Canada’s national biomanufacturing training partner, dedicated to developing skilled talent to drive the country’s thriving biomanufacturing sector. With state-of-the-art, GMP-simulated facilities from coast to coast (in Charlottetown, PE; Montreal QC, and Vancouver, BC), CASTL delivers hands-on, industry-informed training alongside flexible online learning. As Canada’s exclusive provider of National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) programs, CASTL offers world-class education with support from adMare BioInnovations and its adMare Academy, shaping the next generation of life sciences professionals.
For information about CASTL’s comprehensive offering of in-person, virtual, and on-demand biomanufacturing training courses and programs, visit castlcanada.ca.
BioTalent Canada supports the people behind life-changing science. Trusted as the go-to source for labour market intelligence, BioTalent Canada guides bio-economy stakeholders with evidence-based data and industry-driven standards. BioTalent Canada is focused on igniting the industry’s brainpower, bridging the gap between job-ready talent and employers, and ensuring the long-term agility, resiliency, and sustainability of one of Canada’s most vital sectors.
Future Skills Centre (FSC) is a forward-thinking centre for research and collaboration dedicated to driving innovation in skills development so that everyone in Canada can be prepared for the future of work. We partner with policymakers, researchers, practitioners, employers and labour groups, and post-secondary institutions to solve pressing labour market challenges and ensure that everyone can benefit from relevant lifelong learning opportunities. FSC is founded by a consortium whose members are Toronto Metropolitan University, Blueprint, and The Conference Board of Canada, and is funded by the Government of Canada's Future Skills Program.
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