EU calls on tech giants to help address healthcare talent crunch

A new EU-backed initiative has been launched in a bid to find new talent in the increasingly digitalised and data-driven healthcare, pharmaceutical and medical manufacturing sectors.

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology's healthcare arm, EIT Health, is looking to partner with tech giants and industry players at the WorkInHealth Foundation, a Europe-wide initiative that aims to secure new talent and ready the healthcare sector for an ever-more connected future. 

Covid-19 has greatly accelerated the transition towards the use of AI and jobs that are more data-driven and digitally-based. The WorkInHealth Foundation was launched to tackle concerns about a possible labour shortage in the sector over the next decade. 

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It is estimated that over 120,000 new jobs could be created over the next ten years, replacing half of all existing jobs in the medical manufacturing and pharmaceutical sectors that are predicted to become automated in that same time frame.

Meanwhile, biomanufacturing companies are struggling to recruit bioprocess engineers, automation engineers, and manufacturing science and technology staff.

Despite the impending talent crunch, EIT Health says that only around one-third of companies in those sectors have begun efforts to reskill their workforce, with the average investment far lower than the likes of AT&T or Amazon, which spend as much as €27,000 per employee.

The WorkInHealth Foundation will launch an AI-powered platform that can match skilled talent with roles in the European healthcare sector and is looking to raise €2 million from tech companies and corporate sponsors. The money will be used to fund campaigns attracting new recruits as well as upskilling or reskilling the existing workforce as Europe shifts towards digitally-focused healthcare.

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EIT Health says that it will seek sponsors from within its existing partner network, which includes companies such as Atos and Sanofi, as well as corporate backers from outside, including some of the biggest names in tech like Apple, Amazon and Microsoft.

“If Europe is to maintain a vibrant and sustainable healthcare sector that can lead in innovation, we must rise to the challenge of recruiting and educating the best talent. It’s clear that there is an urgent need for the industry to attract and retain different forms of talent as well as accelerating, upskilling, and reskilling," said Celine Carrera, Director of Education at EIT Health and chairperson of the WorkInHealth Foundation.

“It’s going to take a collective effort to develop flexible and exciting career paths and find the best talent to fill them, and we are proud to be pioneering a long-term collective solution that can strengthen our approach.”

Upskilling, especially in digital skills and R&D, has formed the core of many national and EU-backed post-Covid recovery plans. 

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The WorkIn Foundation will also look at improving the sector's image and reputation to make career prospects in the industry look more attractive, as well as helping organisations define their needs as the transition continues, and providing educational programmes.

“In the field of biomanufacturing, there are a lot of vacancies, we are missing a lot of talent and it’s really a source of disruption for the business. It’s a crucial hurdle to overcome,” said Cedric Volanti, VP General Manager, Viral Vector Services EU at Thermo Fisher Scientific.

“Looking forward we must do all we can to ensure we don’t find ourselves in the same situation over the coming years when it comes to digital and data-driven roles in healthcare. We must act now.”

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