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Careers in the pharmaceutical industry

Want to find out what it’s like to work in the industry? Looking for opportunities to get into the industry, or the options available to you? Trying to advise someone interested in entering the industry? This section is here to help.

Pharmaceutical Industry Career information from the ABPI

Industry information

The pharmaceutical industry comprises of companies involved in the research and development, manufacturing and supply, and commercialisation of new therapeutic products working to bring the right treatment to the right patient at the right time.

Working in the industry

More than 65% of all medical research and development in the UK is carried out by the pharmaceutical industry.

Your career

As well as helping to treat disease, the pharmaceutical industry is a major employer. Currently in the UK, the industry directly employs around 73,000 people with many more in related industries.

Giving advice

The availability of careers advice during school and university is particularly important. At these ages, students have to make some important decisions about what subjects and courses to choose. They also need guidance on what they should be doing to improve their employability in the future. 

Case studies

Explore the multitude of different roles within the industry; each person has their own career perspective and advice to share. Select a case study.

Facts

There are many interesting aspects to a career in the Pharmaceutical Industry...

Resources

A range of documents are available either to download or can be ordered directly from ABPI.

Getting into the industry

The first question you need to ask yourself is what it is that you most enjoy. There’s an obvious link between science and our industry, but you might not be into physics, chemistry or biology at all...