COVID-19 continues to cause massive disruption to the supply chain and has exposed our vulnerabilities in relying on off-shore suppliers. The situation has caused both private and government sectors to question the validity of offshore manufacturing and whether or not it makes sense to bring manufacturing back to the U.S. shores.
There are good arguments on both sides of the equation, yet the overarching question remains – if we were to bring jobs back to the U.S., would we have the talent and people to fill those jobs?
According to SHRM, 3.5 million STEM jobs will need to be filled by 2025 and millions will go unfilled in the near future. And, a survey by Deloitte found that there’s a clear talent shortage in the U.S. manufacturing sector.
Yet, in addition to exposing our manufacturing vulnerabilities, the hope is that COVID-19 has also exposed the critical role of scientists, researchers, epidemiologists and medical professionals, which will hopefully inspire renewed interest in these fields.
Keeping the U.S. Competitive in Life Sciences
According to the State of U.S. Science and Engineering 2020 report, the U.S. share of global science and technology activity has somewhat diminished, as activity has continued to grow in other regions. The key to keeping the U.S. a driving force in biotech innovation lies in our commitment to educating the next generation and sparking new interest in biotechnology, pharma and medical device manufacturing and other life sciences fields. But how do we accomplish this? Consider the following.
Encourage More International Students
Enrolling more international students in U.S. colleges and universities not only makes the schools more competitive and diverse but it educates the next generation of professionals who may choose to begin their careers in the U.S. and fill much-needed roles. According to NAFSA: Association of International Educators, “foreign students studying at U.S. colleges and universities contributed $41 billion to our national economy and supported more than 458,290 jobs in the 2018- 2019 academic year alone.”
In addition, a National Foundation for Economic Policy study found that “international students are considerably more likely to major in STEM fields than in most other areas of study.” And, in response to this influx of STEM students, the universities are devoting more resources to STEM areas, such as expanding upon its STEM curricula, hiring more faculty and building new labs and science buildings. Continuing to make U.S. higher education more attractive to international STEM students is a good way to ensure the U.S. remains strong in these areas, with a robust base of talented and well-educated prospects for U.S. pharma and life science firms.
Continue Investment in STEM Education at the Earliest Levels
In order to build a burgeoning base of STEM expertise, it’s important to encourage interest at the earliest ages. STEM programs should be encouraged as soon as elementary school, and grants and funding should occur to promote advanced studies in the sciences at the university level. In addition, academic institutions and private firms should work together to offer real-world training via internships and mentoring programs that can set realistic expectations of what can be accomplished in the field.
Fortunately, the government has been focused on boosting STEM education and strengthening children’s understanding of science. In fact, the STEM Education Strategic Plan, Charting a Course for Success: America's Strategy for STEM Education, outlines the federal strategy to promote high-quality STEM education and make the United States the global leader in STEM literacy, innovation, and employment. It is accomplishing this by offering grants, resources and programs that can be employed on a state-level. Despite these programs, however, the country needs to make STEM education at a greater priority, and raise awareness of its opportunities across diverse regions of the U.S.
Recognize That It’s Not Only About Big Pharma
The most eager and enthusiastic of young biotech professionals can become less than enthused when they work for a large pharma firm in a major city and only work on the most routine and tedious of tasks. Young professionals should be more focused on gaining as much experience as possible at a smaller biotech or a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) where multiple projects may be occurring at the same time. This gives them the critical experience they need to handle a variety of situations and activities. Also, while good benefits packages, salaries and other company perks are important in attracting pharma talent, employees want to feel like their opinions are valued, their contributions are appreciated and that they are truly part of a community.
While today’s pandemic has shed the spotlight on big pharma and its heroic role in vaccine roll-outs, there are many pharma firms with little brand recognition that are making great progress on novel vaccines and COVID-19 treatments. There also are CDMOs, CROs and other providers working behind the scenes to address the pandemic along with other diseases. They all need to be spotlighted to reinforce the wide and deep opportunities that abound in life sciences.
It Takes a Diverse Talent Pool to Bring Manufacturing Back to the U.S.
The spotlight on the need for STEM and life sciences talent is often focused on senior professionals holding multiple degrees, yet the truth of the matter is that manufacturing, facilities management and other functions that may not even require a college degree are in high demand and hold the key to making U.S. life sciences manufacturing robust and attractive again. One of the most needed positions in API manufacturing is that of a chemical operator, and while it can be a physically demanding job, many CDMOs and other manufacturers offer good pay and benefits along with job stability to these workers, who are tasked with executing the batch record steps, carrying out reactions, and checking the final product. In addition, there is a need for process and manufacturing technicians, cleanroom operators, packaging operators and others. It can help to bring stable employment to individuals, while contributing to America’s life sciences manufacturing prowess.
While we will continue to offshore manufacturing and R&D for a variety of reasons, it shouldn’t be because of a lack of U.S. resources. And, while a silver lining to the pandemic could be its role in reigniting interest in science, to keep it front and center across the spectrum of roles requires collaboration and cooperation among private business, the government and our education system.
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About the Author
With more than 20 years of experience in the drug substance, finished dosage and commercial pharmaceutical space, Derek Richards, Business Development Director for Seqens CDMO NA, leads the global company’s sales and marketing efforts across North America. Prior to joining Seqens CDMO NA, Derek held positions with leading pharmaceutical companies and CDMOs including Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Schering Plough (now Merck) and Aptuit.