Artificial intelligence, investment in pharmaceutical manufacturing and the expansion of home care are reshaping the skills landscape in Health and Life Sciences. The Manpower report, “Global Employment Trends in Health and Life Sciences”, highlights seven trends shaping the future of employment in the sector. They share a common challenge: securing the people who can turn innovation into better care and business growth.
According to the report, 74% of employers in the Health and Life Sciences sector worldwide struggle to find workers with the skills they need. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the global shortage of health workers will reach 11 million by 2030, mainly in low- and lower-middle-income countries.
The findings show that the sector’s future will be shaped not only by innovation and investment, but also by organisations’ ability to attract, develop and retain skilled professionals.
AI delivers when people can make the most of it
Artificial intelligence is being integrated into clinical processes, organisations’ day-to-day operations, and research and development, creating new opportunities to improve efficiency.
In Life Sciences, employers see AI having its greatest positive impact on employee learning and development (31%), team performance (14%) and forecasting workforce needs (14%).
For businesses, the challenge is to align investment in AI with the real needs of their teams. Human oversight, transparent decision-making and targeted upskilling are essential to building trust and achieving meaningful results.
The sector’s resilience is creating new staffing priorities
Despite economic uncertainty, more than 75% of executives at biopharmaceutical and medical technology companies are confident in their organisation’s financial prospects for the coming year. By contrast, just 41% are optimistic about the global economy.
Growth prospects, mergers and acquisitions, and cost pressures are changing staffing needs. Organisations need flexible workforce planning and executives able to support organisational change, the integration of operations and compliance with regulatory requirements.
Patent expiries are intensifying pressure to innovate
Major changes are also expected in the pharmaceutical industry, as the loss of pharmaceutical patent protection puts additional pressure on companies’ revenues.
According to the report, nearly $300 billion in pharmaceutical product revenues are expected to be affected by patent expiries by 2030. Companies are being called on to accelerate the development of new products, boost productivity and manage operating costs without cutting investment in critical skills.
At the same time, the need to strengthen supply chain resilience is driving the expansion of regional manufacturing. More than $200 billion in investment to expand manufacturing activity has already been announced in the US. These developments are increasing demand for skilled scientific workers.
Growth in home care is creating new staffing needs
The global home healthcare market is projected to grow from $309.9 billion in 2025 to $473.8 billion in 2030, at a compound annual growth rate of 8.9%.
An ageing population and demand for more accessible, personalised care are driving the expansion of services beyond traditional care settings.
Providers need to coordinate their workforce across patients’ homes, clinics and community settings, as well as through digital channels. This is increasing demand for professionals who combine clinical and digital skills with the ability to communicate effectively with patients and work independently. Retaining nurses and care professionals is becoming even more important.
Geopolitical risks and the need to strengthen supply chains are accelerating investment in regional pharmaceutical manufacturing.
According to the report, 76% of biopharmaceutical executives believe geopolitical instability will have a significant impact on procurement strategies, while 56% expect a substantial increase in domestic production of biologics over the next three years. Investment commitments of more than $200 billion to expand pharmaceutical manufacturing have been announced in the US.
But bringing new facilities into operation depends on securing the right workers in time. Demand is growing for specialists in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, automation, engineering, quality assurance and process validation. Partnerships with educational institutions, workforce development and retraining are key priorities for meeting these needs.
Cybersecurity is emerging as a critical priority
Protecting patient data and connected medical devices, and ensuring continuity of care, is another of the seven trends.
The report notes that resilience against cyber threats requires specialist security staff, as well as basic data protection knowledge among clinical, research, commercial and operational teams.
Notably, 83% of CIOs in the Health sector consider cyber threats the greatest risk to their business. Training and incident response planning are part of the wider workforce strategy.
The persistent shortage of skilled workers links all the trends
Workforce shortages remain one of the biggest challenges for the Health and Life Sciences sector, limiting organisations’ ability to grow and innovate.
The shortages extend beyond medical roles, with employers reporting difficulty finding workers with skills in administrative and secretarial support (17%), artificial intelligence (16%) and human resources management (15%).
In Greece, the challenges are even greater: according to ManpowerGroup’s 2026 Talent Shortage Survey, 80% of employers in the Health sector struggle to find suitable workers.
The greatest shortages are in human resources management (26%), administrative and secretarial support (24%) and the use of artificial intelligence tools (18%), with the figures exceeding the corresponding global findings.
This picture highlights the need for more effective strategies to attract and retain talent, develop skills and staff flexibly.
Charalambos Kazantzidis, managing director of ManpowerGroup Greece, said: “The growth of the Health and Life Sciences sector in Greece requires people with the right scientific, technical and digital skills. At ManpowerGroup Greece, we help businesses link their investment and transformation with the recruitment of skilled professionals and the development of skills. We support them in meeting critical needs and building teams that can underpin the sector’s future.”
Putting the workforce at the heart of business strategy
Manpower highlights four key ways organisations can strengthen their competitiveness:
Skills-based Hiring: Widening the candidate pool beyond traditional formal qualifications.
Strategic Reskilling: Developing critical skills within the existing workforce.
Flexible Workforce Models: Combining permanent staff, flexible workers and specialists hired for specific projects.
Workforce Intelligence: Identifying future workforce needs and skills gaps early.