If you’re planning ahead for upcoming projects or keeping an eye on the market, it can be helpful to know what others in the industry are seeing right now.
At LSC, we work closely with life science companies across Ireland and Denmark, so we’re well placed to spot shifts in demand, skill gaps, and where pressure points are emerging.
This quick snapshot highlights the key resourcing trends, market developments, and challenges shaping the sector today.
Resourcing Trends Across the Life Sciences Sector
Right now, demand for experienced professionals across the life sciences sector is showing no signs of slowing down. Continued investment in manufacturing capacity, the rollout of new products, and the drive for smarter, more efficient operations is all putting pressure on companies to secure skilled professionals— fast.
We’re seeing particularly high demand for specialists in Fill-Finish and Aseptic Manufacturing, NPI, Process Development, Process Engineering, Project Management, and Automation & MES. What’s behind the surge?
- Pipeline Expansion & NPI: As advanced therapies and biologics move through the pipeline, companies urgently need professionals who can navigate tech transfer and scale-up — getting new products into commercial manufacture smoothly and swiftly.
- Stricter Sterile Manufacturing Standards: With increased regulatory scrutiny and rising aseptic demand, the race is on to upgrade or build sterile manufacturing facilities — driving up demand for CQV, process, and project engineers.
- Pharma 4.0 & Digitalisation: The shift to smart manufacturing continues to accelerate, and teams need Automation Engineers, MES experts, and digital project leads to make that transformation happen on the ground.
- Ongoing Capital Projects: Across Ireland, greenfield and brownfield projects are in full swing — creating strong demand for experienced project managers and engineers who can deliver under pressure and keep timelines on track.
Projects Underway
While the life sciences sector in Ireland remains active and resilient, global uncertainty is creating headwinds for future investment decisions, with many companies putting a pause on new capital projects as they monitor evolving market conditions.
That said, the current momentum we’re seeing is being driven by significant investments announced over the past two to three years. These previously planned expansions and facility builds are still moving forward, reinforcing Ireland’s position as a global leader in pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturing.
Ireland faces increased global competition for foreign direct investment (FDI), with many countries offering attractive government incentives to lure new life sciences projects. However, Ireland continues to be a location of choice — thanks to its consistent track record of delivering operational facilities, manufacturing high-quality products for global markets, and maintaining an infrastructure of state-of-the-art manufacturing sites supported by a highly skilled workforce.
While Dublin and Cork remain key hubs, the investment footprint is spreading. The Midlands, Limerick, the Shannon region, and the West are becoming new focal points, with major projects such as Novo Nordisk’s €85 million facility in Athlone and Eli Lilly’s €927 million investment in Raheen helping to redistribute opportunity across the country.
This regional shift is enabling professionals who previously relocated to major cities to consider roles closer to home. In turn, it’s opening up new space in Dublin and Cork, as project teams and experienced professionals begin to realign with evolving industry demand.
If you’d like to get a quick snapshot of the projects underway currently, you can view them here.
Market Developments
The recent downturn in Ireland’s tech sector, highlighted by Intel’s planned layoffs ( over 21,000 staff globally), as part of a major operational restructuring, is creating a unique shift in the talent landscape. Many highly skilled professionals from outside the sector —especially in project management, engineering, and data analytics—are now exploring opportunities in the life sciences sector, bringing valuable experience from regulated, high-tech manufacturing environments. This influx of talent with transferable skillsets—including expertise in HVAC systems for sterile cleanrooms, electrical and instrumentation work, utilities management, process data analytics, and facilities engineering—is reshaping the candidate pool.
As AI and digitisation continue to transform the life sciences industry, professionals in the sector will need to prioritise upskilling in data-driven decision-making and digital tools to stay competitive amid this growing and diverse workforce. While the full impact of these changes will unfold over the coming months, the convergence of talent from tech and life sciences presents both challenges and exciting opportunities for growth and innovation.
Current Challenges
The life sciences sector is navigating a number of persistent and emerging challenges that are shaping how companies plan and deliver projects. The market remains skills-short, particularly as the demand grows for highly specialised expertise in areas like data, analytics, and digital systems. As digital transformation accelerates across manufacturing, quality, and supply chain functions, organisations are under pressure to find professionals with both deep technical knowledge and sector-specific experience.
At the same time, cost pressures continue to mount, with companies expected to deliver operational efficiencies without compromising quality or compliance — a challenge made more complex by global inflation and supply chain uncertainty.
Additionally, retention and engagement of contractors and technical professionals is becoming increasingly difficult, with candidates expecting not only competitive rates but also meaningful work, flexibility, and clear communication throughout their assignments. For hiring managers, balancing project delivery needs with evolving workforce expectations is becoming a critical part of resourcing strategy.