CBRE Analysis: Houston Remains a Top Market for U.S. Life Sciences Research Talent

Houston ranked 13th in the nation for life sciences research talent, according to a recent analysis conducted by CBRE. The report identifies Houston as a top 25 U.S. life sciences market based on key factors such as number of graduates, high-ranking universities and institutions and density of talent.

“We need a strong pool of graduates to continue expanding the life sciences industry in the U.S.,” said Scott Carter, Senior Vice President at CBRE. “The world-class universities like University of Houston, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Rice University and others, offer best-in-class programs for graduates making Houston a top market for life science research talent.”

Houston produces the nation’s 20th largest number of graduates and certificates in biological and biomedical sciences (1,832 graduates in 2021); however, the number of graduates grew at the nation’s third-fastest rate between 2016-2021 (38%; compared to 16% for the total U.S.), behind Phoenix (91% growth rate between 2016 – 2021) and Riverside/San Bernardino (47% growth rate in the same period).

The area’s consistent ranking as a top market for life sciences research talent is due in part to its abundant number of researchers. In 2022, Houston employed 8,480 in life sciences occupations, ranking as the nation’s 12th largest pool of life sciences research talent.

CBRE evaluated each of the largest 74 U.S. life sciences labor markets against multiple criteria, including the number and concentration of life sciences researchers, number of new graduates with life sciences degrees and specifically with doctorate degrees in life sciences, concentration of all doctorate degree holders, and concentration of jobs in the broader professional, scientific, and technical services professions. The analysis produced CBRE’s second annual ranking of the leading markets for U.S. life sciences talent.

The number of life sciences researchers in the U.S. increased by 87% over the past 20 years, compared with 14% for all U.S. occupations. Research jobs have not fallen across those 20 years, through three recessions and amid a tight labor market of recent years.

Life sciences research professions – from biochemists to epidemiologists and data scientists – increased in headcount by 3.1% in 2022 to a record 545,000 specialists. In comparison, the overall U.S. job growth rate last year was 2.2%. The continued growth in life sciences research jobs is driven by established markets such as Boston/Cambridge and the San Francisco Bay Area and emerging hubs, including Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth and Miami/Fort Lauderdale.

“Demand for life sciences research workers is above pre-pandemic levels,” said Matt Gardner, CBRE Advisory Services Life Sciences Leader. “We’re also seeing a closely balanced ratio of hiring to job cuts in the biopharma industry compared with the technology sector and the broader economy, which positions the life sciences to remain stable despite an economic downturn.”

To read the full report, click here.