New Public First research shows that younger workers view careers in the pharmaceutical industry as having better work life balance and more social purpose than careers in the technology and finance sectors.

The research was carried out by Public First, on behalf of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry. The ABPI is the association that represents companies who make medicines and vaccines in the UK.

The report contains 7 headline findings:

1. Salary is the main driver of career attractiveness for young people with 50% saying good earnings was the important factor when considering different roles. Job security, progression, and work- life balance are also key, while purpose appears to be less important than might be expected.
2. Young people have positive perceptions of the pharmaceutical industry and think it has a particularly positive impact on the UK.
3. Jobs in the pharmaceutical industry are seen as offering many of the factors that most drive young people’s career choices. They are attractive to people from a range of backgrounds but have the most appeal for those from STEM backgrounds.
4. The pharmaceutical industry is considered to be relatively well paid and secure compared to other competitor industries. Jobs in the industry are considered to offer a positive work- life balance and make a particularly positive difference to society.
5. Despite this, there is a general lack of awareness about the diversity of roles available in the industry. This lack of awareness means young people may feel the industry is not for them or struggle to navigate it.
6. The industry is also perceived to have a relatively narrow academic pathway to entry, which drives a view that its workforce lacks diversity.

Polling Tables

Public First conducted polling for the ABPI on young people’s perceptions of careers in the pharmaceutical industry, online survey 2,037 16-25 year olds across the UK from 12th to 25th March 2024.

All results are weighted using Iterative Proportional Fitting, or ‘Raking’. The results are weighted by interlocking age & gender and region to be nationally representative of the 16-25 year old age group. Public First is a member of the BPC and abides by its rules. For more information please contact the Public First polling team: polling@publicfirst.co.uk

You can read the full report here and download the polling tables here.