The Top Three Strategies the Pharmaceutical Industry Must Implement to Solve its Skills Troubles

An analysis of pharmaceutical talent trends has revealed that the industry must address the looming skills shortages or risk losing the best candidates to other sectors.

According to the latest market research from specialist Life Sciences recruiter, Clinical Professionals, there are three key strategies the industry must implement to stay ahead in the talent crisis:

• Smart pipelining and pooling: In an increasingly competitive talent environment, it’s vital to build a pool of talent that matches future demand. Working with your CRO or a Functional Services Provider (FSP) can help develop a pipeline of engaged candidates, but don’t forget to make the most of digital innovations as well.

• Reaching out to new communities: Where talent comes from should not be limited to the usual sources. Businesses in the sector need to look at wider communities that may harbour future pharmaceutical talent. Graduates looking to develop their career as a physician, for example, could be future candidates for the Clinical Research, Medical Affairs and Pharmacovigilance arenas.

• Think global, not local: The talent pipeline is now internationally available and should be utilised, particularly for an industry with limited available skills. Businesses in the sector must be engaging with talent across borders using a strong employer brand message.

Yvette Cleland, Managing Director at Clinical Professionals commented on this potential skills shortage: “The upheaval the industry has noted isn’t surprising given the challenges most organisations have faced, from clinical trials failing to clients demanding more. But while the changing pharma environment and budget constraints can’t always be helped, it’s important that the people element of business isn’t pushed to one side. Ultimately, it is this talent that really places organisations ahead of the competition.”

“Regardless of the solution organisations opt for, what is vital is that the industry gets talent back at the top of its agenda. Without the highly skilled people to drive innovation and clinical research, the pharmaceutical sector will struggle to progress,” she continued.