Maryland leads the country in university conducted life sciences research per capita, according to a new report published by The Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development. The Life Sciences Maryland: Jobs and Economic Impact Report was released by Governor O'Malley at the BIO 2011 International Conference in Washington, DC.
The life sciences sector has been a major source of new job growth in Maryland in the last decade. Between 2002 and 2010, the life sciences sector was responsible for one third of Maryland's job gains. Life sciences jobs pay an average of 76% more than other jobs in the state, with an average salary of more than $91,000. The majority of the region's jobs in life sciences are in Research, Testing and Medical Labs, and Drugs and Pharmaceuticals. These specializations account for 94% of Maryland's life sciences jobs.
Life sciences activity, including private sector jobs, Federally related jobs, and academic activity accounts for 71,618 Maryland jobs, or 3% of all jobs in the state. There are 15 Federal facilities, 16 universities or colleges, and over 500 private companies conducting life sciences research in Maryland. With more than 1700 private companies supporting and producing products for the life sciences sector in the state, Maryland ranks fifth in the country for overall concentration of jobs that are directly tied to life sciences.
Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development