CDMO hiring struggles as demand for specialized talent outpaces supply

Contract development and manufacturing organizations are finding it harder to fill positions, according to a search expert who tracks life-science talent. The surge in outsourcing has created a gap between the number of open roles and the pool of qualified candidates.

Dave Bowers, managing director at EPM Scientific, said the shortage is especially acute for highly specialized skills such as peptide process chemistry, which can take many years to master. He noted that higher salaries alone cannot create the expertise needed.

Industry data from Vision Lifesciences shows the global CDMO market grew to roughly $210 billion in 2025, up from $170 billion in 2022, driven by three structural forces that are expanding demand for outsourced manufacturing.