According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment in life sciences is projected to grow faster than average from 2023-2033. This is promising news for the industry, especially after a tough couple of years.
The industry saw hiring freezes and layoffs in 2024, but the market in 2025 has shown signs of recovery. Pharmaceutical jobs are holding steady while biotech roles remain competitive. And as companies shift back to in-person work, remote opportunities are becoming less common.
Looking ahead to 2026, growth is on the horizon. So what skills are in high demand, and where are the biggest talent gaps? Let’s take a look at the skills and life sciences jobs our experts have identified as industry priorities for the future.
Top Skills Needed in Life Sciences
According to Katie Wasko, Insight Global’s Managing Director of Life Sciences, here are some of the biggest focus areas moving into 2026:
- Optimization of clinical trials and manufacturing
- Global and regulatory compliance
- Expertise in AI and machine learning
Integrating AI into clinical trials has led to a massive optimization push in research and development (R&D). This in turn will lead to accelerated manufacturing processes across the industry.
As production speeds up, companies must expand their supply chains globally to keep momentum, driving the need for better compliance practices on an international scale.
AI is transforming jobs that intersect with biology and computer science, too. Professionals who can both leverage AI tools and train others to use them effectively are in high demand and increasingly valued as technology rapidly evolves.
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11 Life Sciences Jobs in High-Demand
The future of life sciences depends on the people driving it forward. As the industry rebounds and evolves, certain roles are becoming more critical than ever. Our experts have identified the following jobs as immensely important to the success of the industry in 2026.
Clinical Research Associate (CRA)
CRAs are usually found in the clinical research & manufacturing (R&M) and pharma subindustries. Responsibilities include:
- Overseeing, executing, and monitoring clinical trials
- Conducting trials ethically and in compliance with regulatory standards
- Site selection and inspection
- Data and trials monitoring
- Ensuring participant safety
As trials continue to evolve with the integration of new practices and technologies, CRAs will be key to not only team success but to companies maintaining global standards.
Regulatory Affairs Specialist/Manager
Like CRAs, Regulatory Affairs Specialists/Managers are incredibly important parts of life sciences companies in maintaining global regulations.
Their responsibilities can include:
- Ensuring global compliance amid evolving regulations and requirements
- Advising teams on compliance matters
- Managing regulatory processes such as submissions, audits, and inspections
Biostatistician
Biostatisticians (or data scientists) work throughout the life sciences field, and their work with quantitative analysis and machine learning is especially important within the industry today. Some of their responsibilities include:
- Designing and analyzing studies in clinical research
- Applying statistical models to interpret complex data
- Supporting clinical trials
- Communicating research findings
Regardless of sector, there is a current hiring preference for biostatisticians with expertise in AI, machine learning, and bioinformatics.
Bioinformatics Scientist
Bioinformatics scientists—also known as bioinformaticians—develop the tools, applications, and algorithms needed to analyze biological data in genomics and proteomics data analysis, where current demand lies.
These scientists primarily:
- Design experiments
- Collaborate with fellow researchers
- Perform genetics work to meet research goals
As AI capabilities continue to grow in the R&D space, bioinformatics scientists who can train others in new technology and run digital twin experiments will be key within hiring within all life sciences jobs.
Clinical Data Analyst
- Manages data and information for research or clinical trials
- Safeguards, maintains, and interprets essential data.
Because so much of this job involves data compilation and analysis, programming skills in SAS, Python, and R are usually required.
AI integration into clinical trials will affect the future of data analysis. Analysts who can combine their statistical skills with practical AI knowledge will be needed.
Medical Writer
Medical writers can work across the life sciences industry. They:
- Write and edit scientific resources, including clinical studies and regulatory submissions
- Translate complex data into clear, accurate content
The demand within life sciences lies within scientific and regulatory documentation as these writers ensure compliance with global industry regulations.
Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC) Specialists
QA specialists create testing and inspection systems to make sure that certain requirements are met before a product launches.
QC specialists analyze data and monitor results following a product’s development and launch.
Across all life sciences subindustries, these roles are especially important regarding product quality maintenance and navigating regulatory compliance.
Process Development Scientist
Put the most simply, a process development scientist makes sure projects are completed in a timely fashion, works to improve manufacturing efficiency, and incorporate life science theories into product development.
Because the scaling and optimization of manufacturing is key to overall industry speed, these scientists are integral to the future of the industry.
They are currently needed in the cell, gene therapies, and biologics areas of biotech, pharmaceutical, and clinical R&M.
Molecular Biologist and Molecular Research Associate
Molecular biologists‘ and molecular research associates’ responsibilities include:
- Working in lab settings to study cellular molecules (DNA, RNA, proteins)
- Conducting research and experiments
- Analyzing genetic data
- Collaborating on research projects
These two roles will be essential to core R&D activities and lab-based innovation in biotech and pharma in 2026.
Pharmacovigilance Specialist
Pharmacovigilance specialists monitor various stages of drug development and the saftety of clinical trials. These responsibilities can include:
- Development of drug safety protocols
- Preclinical and clinical regulatory compliance
- Post-market safety monitoring of pharmaceutical products
- Analysis of adverse event reports
- Communicating risks to regulatory authorities
The faster the industry continues to move, the more crucial pharmacovigilance will become.
Computational Biology Engineer and Computational AI Engineer
Both computational biology and AI engineers blend biology with computer science. These engineers:
- Work with biological data to develop models and algorithms to analyze biological systems
- Use machine learning to interpret genomic data, simulate biological processes, or predict drug responses
These two roles have similar functions in the life sciences industry today—both are key to integrating AI and automation into R&D and clinical trials for the purpose of increasing speed and scale. Across all subindustries in life sciences jobs, these engineers are particularly important in drug discovery.
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Explore the Future of Life Sciences
Whether you’re looking for your next career move or looking to hire experts in life sciences, our experts at Insight Global are ready to help you hire the right people. We go beyond staffing to help you integrate professional services into your workflow, so you can not only keep up with the life sciences industry but lead the way in optimization and innovation.
by Alexandra Woodford 
