Massachusetts biotech employment drops for first time since 2002, losing 3,600 jobs
The Massachusetts biotech sector shed about 3,600 positions in 2025, bringing the workforce down to 113,503 - the first decline recorded since at least 2002.
A recent snapshot from the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council shows the state's biopharma workforce fell by 3.1% compared with the previous year, cutting 3,600 jobs. The total number of employees now stands at 113,503. Empty laboratory spaces in Greater Boston illustrate the slowdown after a pandemic-driven venture-capital surge. Industry leaders attribute the contraction to broader sector headwinds and uncertainty over federal research funding, echoing Alan Greenspan’s past warning about irrational exuberance.
Why it matters
The job loss highlights growing challenges for Massachusetts' biotech hub and could affect the state's economy and research capacity.
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