Skills shortage hinders digital transformation in the pharma industry

Large and medium-sized companies view this as a greater concern compared to smaller enterprises.

The pharmaceutical sector is grappling with a significant skills gap as technological advancements outpace traditional training programmes.

A GlobalData survey revealed that almost half (49%) of the industry’s professionals identified a lack of specific skills and talents as the primary obstacle to digital transformation.

Large and medium-sized companies, in particular, view the shortage as a greater concern compared to smaller enterprises.

“Larger corporations may have a wider scale of operations or a higher number of systems to digitalize, which requires more human resources to complete the process,” Urte Jakimaviciute, Senior Director of Market Research and Strategic Intelligence at GlobalData, said.

In contrast, smaller firms often rely on outsourcing specialised roles and prioritising rapid innovation over in-house expertise.

“The ongoing advancements in technologies also mean that skills can become easily outdated, making it critical for companies to continuously invest in talent acquisition and upskilling,” Jakimaviciute added.