Life Sciences Workforce for Today and Tomorrow.

• Author: Bell, Denise

Like other fast-growing industries in Utah, the life sciences sector puts a premium on workforce development and talent recruitment--and for good reason! Utah's life sciences industry has a high demand for skilled workers in manufacturing and STEM-related fields. There's also high demand for C-suite talent and experienced scientists who can help put new startups on the map.

Utah's workforce has always played a key role in attracting business to the state. In fact, Utah's strong work ethic and educated populace are often cited as one of the primary reasons why companies choose to establish themselves here. Approximately 91.2 percent of adults in the state have earned at least a high school degree, and nearly half have a college degree or certificate. It's also a youthful population, with the third highest number of millennials (between the ages of 20 and 34) in the nation.

"We want to maintain that advantage," said Theresa Foxley, President and CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Utah. "Utah's life sciences employers understand the importance of creating and training a pipeline of workers, leaders, and entrepreneurs for the next generation. They've made strengthening the workforce a priority."

In fact, building a 21st-century workforce becomes even more imperative in Utah, since it's experiencing a tight labor market. In August, 2017, Utah's unemployment rate stood at 3.1 percent, well below the national rate of 3.9 percent.

"We're a forward-thinking industry," said Jeff Nelson, President of Nelson Laboratories, a Sotera Health company. "We value our people and want to find ways to increase our workforce and address skill gaps. Fortunately, in Utah, government, education and industry are already at the table, collaborating to better link classroom learning and training programs with real-world industry needs." For example, Utah schools and technical colleges have advisory committees with industry representation to provide input on course content. In addition, the state has established targeted initiatives to help prepare students and adult learners for solid jobs and careers with medical device manufacturing and laboratory testing companies.

One such initiative, targeted at the life sciences, is the Medical Innovations Pathways (MIP) program. The program, launched in 2016 as part of Gov. Gary Herbert's Talent Ready Utah blueprint, provides high school students with the training needed to open the door to exciting careers with...