This new brief reveals that few biotech graduates choose to relocate to find employment, with most seeking employment close to where they studied. There are several factors at play, notably that employers located close to a post-secondary institution can engage and form relationships with the students before graduation.

The data for this brief was collected from an analysis of Statistics Canada’s National Graduate Survey (NGS) and Education and Labour Market Longitudinal Platform (ELMLP). The results indicate several things.

  1. Graduate relocation—or lack thereof in most cases—presents challenges and opportunities for the bio-economy.
  2. Employers, post-secondary institutions, and associations must make students aware of the opportunities and resources that exist prior to graduation.
  3. Engaging graduates from closely aligned fields of biological/biomedical science programs must be undertaken to lower the underemployment rates within this group.

BioTalent Canada will publish three additional research briefs in advance of the full LMI release in 2021. The organization plans to produce 11 in-depths reports next year, including nine LMI regional and national reports, a report on “hot jobs”, and a talent supply report. Employers wishing to provide expertise in future studies are invited to contact BioTalent Canada Project Manager Adriana Saenz.

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