The life science industry employed 43,546 workers in Washington in 2021, according to a new report from the industry group Life Science Washington.
The group released the report Tuesday and noted life science had a $35.3 billion economic impact in the state in 2021.
“Washington’s life science industry continued to add jobs during the pandemic,” Marc Cummings, CEO of Life Science Washington, said in a release. “As local companies continue to grow and expand within the state and new large players move in, we’re seeing an array of jobs across a wide spectrum of activity."
The report noted there are more than 1,100 life science organizations across 136 cities in Washington. Life science employment grew 33.6% between 2015 and 2021, according to the report, and the average salary for life science jobs was $123,108, compared to $84,068 for other private sector jobs.
Seattle is home to 408 life science companies, the report said. Bellevue has 69, while Bothell has 59 and Redmond has 53. A report last year from Life Science Washington Institute, meanwhile, noted life science companies landed $5.1 billion in 2021, a three-year high.
The positive numbers lend context to recent layoffs at Seattle-area biotech companies, as this year has proven to be challenging for the sector.
Seattle-based Neoleukin Therapeutics in March said it was laying off 70% of its staff and said the company is exploring "strategic alternatives" such as a sale, merger or a divestiture of assets, among its options. Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk said in March it was laying off 86 workers in Seattle and closing its wet-lab activities in the city. In February, Eliem Therapeutics said it was cutting its workforce by about 55%, and CEO Bob Azelby was stepping down.
Life Science Washington is an industry group based in Seattle with more than 500 members. The organization states it's focused on connecting members to funding, talent, partners and services.
