Maryland
As biopharma job openings rose this year, opportunities were greatest in Massachusetts and California and in the science/R&D and clinical disciplines, according to BioSpace data. Several other locations and functions have also been going strong.
Seven of the 10 companies participating in the fall cohorts of MassBio and SCbio’s Drive program are based in the United States, including four in Massachusetts.
Workforce cuts this year at seven companies involved in recent mergers and acquisitions will cost over 1,300 employees their jobs. Affected businesses include Arcellx and Tourmaline Bio, acquired by Gilead Sciences and Novartis, respectively.
Gilead is laying off Arcellx employees in California and Maryland, with some cuts effective this year and the remainder happening in 2027.
The trend of fewer companies letting employees go, which began in the fourth quarter of last year, has continued. However, more employees were on the chopping block in Q1 2026 than in Q1 2025, due mainly to one company’s cuts.
Looking for a research and development job? Check out the BioSpace list of 12 companies hiring life sciences professionals like you.
BioSpace has revealed its new 2026 Hotbed Maps, showcasing seven regional life sciences hot spots.
In 2025, made or projected biopharma workforce cuts affected about 42,700 employees, according to BioSpace tallies. BioSpace takes a deep dive into which companies and locations were impacted and speaks to experts about what to expect ahead—and why.
The Washington, D.C.–Baltimore area ranks in the top six for life sciences R&D and manufacturing talent, according to a CBRE report. The Maryland Department of Commerce’s director of life sciences discusses the workforce and how the state is adapting to changing needs.
During the first quarter, 22 rounds of biopharma layoffs in California affected about 995 employees total, while 17 rounds in Massachusetts impacted around 410 people, based on BioSpace estimates. Meanwhile, competition for jobs in those states increased year over year, according to BioSpace data.
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