Biotech Industry Sees Impact Rise

North Carolina’s booming life sciences industry has hit a major milestone, surpassing 100,000 jobs.

The number of life sciences business in the state grew to 6,687 in 2023, a 43 percent increase from 2019. Additionally, the number of people employed in the industry grew by 23 percent between 2019 to 2023, reaching 103,107 employees working in the industry.

A report from TEConomy Partners, commissioned by the N.C. Biotechnology Center, found that the state’s life sciences industry is growing faster than near any other state.

Employment in the industry increased in North Carolina by 23 percent between 2019 and 2023, well above growth in the state’s total private sector of 9 percent. North Carolina’s employment grow was only slightly behind Massachusetts at 26 percent and ahead of Texas (22 percent) and Florida (19 percent).