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Life sciences employers weigh labor cost and talent pipelines in site picks
A Cushman and Wakefield report says education pipelines are a key differentiator, and Texas degree completions in life-science programs have nearly doubled over the past decade.
Life sciences employers are still looking to established biotech hubs for talent and collaboration, but a new Cushman and Wakefield report says labor factors are increasingly shaping where companies choose to set up, including site selection considerations beyond traditional cluster advantages, according to ConnectCRE.
The report points to Denver as an example of faster momentum, citing double-digit annual growth in life sciences jobs over the past five years, with projected robust growth ahead. It also warns that the next tier of markets is getting more competitive as employers weigh practical costs like the higher wages needed to attract workers in expensive regions including the Bay Area, New York, Boston, and San Diego.
Cushman and Wakefield also highlights education pipelines as a differentiator across markets. It says Texas markets including Austin, Dallas, and Houston have seen increased enrollment in life-science related programs, with degree completions nearly doubling over the past decade, supporting the region’s ability to back future industry growth.
On hiring conditions, ConnectCRE notes the report said the life sciences jobs picture saw some bumps during 2023 to 2025, but that things appeared to be settling by early 2026. The team tied the stabilization to improving M&A and IPO activity and said life sciences employment appears to have steadied through the first half of 2026, citing a Fierce Biotech analysis of biopharma layoffs in 2025.