The final quarter of 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most active recruitment periods in Poland’s life sciences sector. Twenty-nine percent of companies in medical services, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology plan to hire new employees between October and December, while only 6% expect to reduce staff.
This is encouraging news for candidates seeking opportunities in these industries — but also a signal for employers that competition for skilled professionals is intensifying. New recruitment needs are mainly driven by new projects, short-term initiatives, diversity efforts, and the replacement of departing staff.
Depending on experience and role, salaries range from PLN 12,000 to 30,000 gross per month.
Strongest hiring outlook in 18 months
The hiring forecast for the fourth quarter of 2025 in the medical, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology sector stands at +22%, the highest level in 18 months. This is 4 percentage points higher than in Q3 2025 and 7 points higher year-on-year, according to ManpowerGroup.
New projects drive hiring; completed ones lead to reductions
More than half of surveyed companies (56%) are recruiting for new or temporary projects requiring additional teams.
A third (33%) are creating new positions to increase diversity within their organizations.
Meanwhile, 22% cite filling vacancies after employee departures, business expansion, or changing market requirements as the main reasons for hiring.
Only 6% of employers anticipate layoffs, primarily due to project completions (50%) or organizational restructuring (50%).
Who’s in demand and what skills matter most
According to Joanna Owsian-Bryl, Senior Business Consultant for Permanent Recruitment at Manpower, demand is strongest for specialists who combine technical expertise with soft skills.
“Employers are looking for professionals who can operate modern laboratory systems, use bioinformatics tools, and work effectively in international teams,” she explains.
“Digitalization and process automation are transforming the life sciences sector. Teams are increasingly global, so candidates who can collaborate across departments and standardize procedures across local and global structures are highly valued.”
The expert also points to demographic changes as a key factor driving demand.
An aging population fuels investment in research, leading to job growth in Regulatory Affairs, R&D project management, and data analysis roles.
Attractive salaries and new compliance-related positions
Wages in the sector remain highly competitive. Depending on the role and level of experience, salaries range from PLN 12,000 to 30,000 gross.
Stricter regulations governing clinical trials, patient safety, and data protection are also leading to the creation of new compliance, audit, and risk management roles, where monthly pay typically ranges from PLN 12,000 to 24,000 gross.
“These regulatory changes directly influence innovation and skill development in the life sciences sector,” says Owsian-Bryl.
Six in ten companies focus on workforce stability
Despite strong recruitment trends, 58% of employers in the medical, pharmaceutical, and biotech sectors do not plan to change staffing levels in the last quarter of 2025.
The most common reasons include:
- Teams already well-aligned with business goals (67%)
- A strategy focused on retaining existing staff (28%)
- Market stability reducing the need for adjustments (22%)
“A high proportion of companies maintaining stable employment reflects operational maturity and growing stability,” notes Owsian-Bryl.
“Many organizations are investing in the training and development of existing employees to keep up with technological and regulatory changes.”
These efforts include:
- Laboratory process automation
- Legal and compliance updates
- Managing distributed teams
- Leadership and cross-functional communication development
- Emerging areas such as patient data cybersecurity and digital data management
Existing roles are also evolving to reflect new responsibilities — for example, Regulatory Affairs departments are now often accountable for clinical data safety and GDPR compliance.
As Owsian-Bryl adds, many life sciences companies now operate in global structures, meaning that a significant share of recruitment processes are conducted internationally.
About the study
ManpowerGroup asked employers about their reasons for hiring new staff, reducing headcount, or maintaining employment levels. Respondents could choose up to three reasons.
The global survey, conducted between July 1 and July 31, 2025, included over 40,000 employers worldwide, including 525 companies in Poland.
Source: CEO.com.pl – “Medical and Pharmaceutical Companies Increase Hiring: Up to PLN 30,000 for Specialists”
