The Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation (“MassBioEd”) has launched a new Life Sciences Apprenticeship program. The program, believed to be the first of their kind in the United States, is designed to help expand the availability of trained personnel to meet the needs of a rapidly growing industry; to help diversify the talent available to biomanufacturing and clinical operations in the state; and to strengthen the commitment of many growing life sciences companies to the communities where they operate.
Despite the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, biopharma extended its historical employment trend in Massachusetts and grew at a rate of 5.5% in 2020, reaching nearly 84,000 jobs and representing a 55% increase from 2008 – 2020.
Bristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer are Leadership Sponsors of the Apprenticeship Program. Massachusetts Life Sciences Center is the Builder Sponsor and Alexion Charitable Foundation and ArrantaBio are Innovator Sponsors. Support is also being provided by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.