74% of employers set to hire, yet persistent talent shortages threaten industry expansion.
Charlottetown, PE – April 17, 2025. The Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL), in partnership with BioTalent Canada and the Future Skills Centre (FSC), has released an important new report, “Navigating the Talent Landscape: Labour Market Information Shaping the Biomanufacturing Workforce.” This report 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.
Demand for biomanufacturing talent is surging, with 74% of industry employers planning to hire within the next three years. However, a reliance on intra-industry hiring (52%) is worsening workforce deficits, making it clear that new recruitment strategies and expanded training access are needed.
Key Findings:
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Fifty percent of new hires will be in manufacturing/production technician roles, requiring specialized skills.
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Financial constraints and limited time prevent many employers from upskilling their workforce.
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Only one-third of companies have fully implemented Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies, creating untapped potential for workforce expansion.
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The industry’s talent pipeline is limited, emphasizing the need for alternative hiring strategies.
The report outlines clear solutions to address these workforce challenges, including:
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Strengthening industry-academic partnerships to align training with real-world needs.
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Expanding talent pipelines by recruiting internationally educated professionals and underrepresented groups.
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Investing in hands-on training programs to ensure new hires are job ready.
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Collaborating with government and training providers to make specialized training more accessible and cost-effective.
Industry Leaders Weigh In
"Despite current economic uncertainty, Canada’s biomanufacturing sector holds strong long-term growth potential, and the need to build a skilled workforce remains critical. This report highlights the importance of addressing training gaps and strengthening talent pipelines to ensure future competitiveness. At CASTL, we’re committed to hands-on training that equips professionals with the expertise industry needs. By working together, employers, training providers, and policymakers can build a future-ready workforce that continues to drive innovation and sustainability in Canadian biomanufacturing."
Penny Walsh-McGuire
CEO, Canadian Alliance for Skills & Training in Life Sciences (CASTL)
"CASTL’s report highlights both the immense growth potential of Canadian biomanufacturing and the urgent need to address workforce shortages. With hiring demand on the rise, investing in training and expanding talent pipelines is critical to ensuring long-term industry success. BioTalent Canada is proud to support CASTL’s initiatives in identifying skill gaps and advancing workforce solutions that will help Canada remain competitive on the global stage."
Rob Henderson
President and CEO, BioTalent Canada
"The Future Skills Centre is working with partners like CASTL and BioTalent to ensure we have the right people in the right places with the right skills at the right time. Biomanufacturing is a critical sector for Canada’s competitiveness, and addressing talent shortages through expanded training and inclusive hiring strategies will drive long-term growth and innovation."
Noel Baldwin
Executive Director, Future Skills Centre
About the Study
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. It is funded by the Government of Canada’s Future Skills program.
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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 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.
About BioTalent Canada
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.
About Future Skills Centre
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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