Pharmaceutical Industry Workers

As the number of people age 65 and over continues to increase, the pharmaceutical industry is expected to grow to accommodate medical needs. In addition, technological developments continue to be pursued in many scientific endeavors, including the creation of new drugs for the treatment of such widespread diseases as AIDS and cancer. Employment for sales representatives in the pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing industry is expected to experience slower than average growth through 2033, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).

Many drug companies are choosing to manufacture their products abroad, thereby decreasing the need for workers on the production line. Additionally, automation (including the use of advanced artificial intelligence and robots) will reduce the number of production workers that are needed.

Employment for biotechnology production workers will be better. The DOL reports that "biotechnology research plays a key role in scientific advancements that improve people’s quality of life." Examples include new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, and other diseases. These developments suggest that there will be steady demand for biotech production workers.