Job openings are rampant in Oregon bioscience sector
Many Oregon and Southwest Washington biotech companies are in hiring mode.
By Elizabeth
Hayes – Staff Reporter, Portland Business Journal
Nov 9, 2021, 6:21pm EST
Hard data is not yet available, but jobs openings in the life sciences in Oregon and Southwest Washington may be
more plentiful than ever, according to the local industry association.
“There are more opportunities now; it’s a job seeker’s market,” said Liisa
Bozinovic, executive director of Oregon Bio. “It’s anecdotal but real.”
Oregon Bio is holding its Virtual
Fall 2021 Career Fair on Wednesday for applicants to learn more about bioscience organizations, both large and small, that are hiring.
Among the regional companies seeking workers are Thermo Fisher, with 41 positions open, Acumed, with more than 50 job openings and
Absci, with 20, according to Oregon Bio.
From 2017 to 2019, jobs in the biosciences in Oregon were on a growth tear: from 5,698 postings to 8,651 postings. The number to
6,917 dipped last year, but Bozinovic believes that was just a blip due to Covid and that hiring has rebounded.
“It’s across the board and in all the sectors — drugs and pharmaceutical, medical device, research testing labs,” she said. Quality
assurance and data technicians are in especially high demand.
Local companies are more and more willing to hire people from out of the region and to allow remote workers.
The association recently added a group health insurance plan for members to offer employees.
The bioscience industry in Oregon provides direct and indirect employment for 47,000 jobs, with the average wage in 2017 at more
than $70,000, according to Oregon Bio.
Largest
Bioscience & Health Technology Companies in Oregon & S.W. Washington
Ranked by Employment in Oregon & Clark County, Washington
|
Rank |
Name |
Employment In Oregon & Clark County, Washington |
|
1 |
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. |
1,062 |
|
2 |
TE Connectivity |
601 |
|
3 |
Biotronik/Micro Systems Engineering Inc. |
550 |