08.08.14
According to a report from Evaluate Ltd., a life science market intelligence and analysis company, Medtech employment remained steady in 2013 with most medical device makers experiencing an increase in their workforce. The jobs report, titled ““Medtech employment stable despite harsh environment,” was published by Evaluate’s EP Vantage. With more hiring than firing occurring and continued growth expected this year, the medtech industry may finally be picking up steam.
Of the top 15 device makers, only three experienced a reduction in headcount and two of those drops were due to companies spinning off their respective pharmaceutical operations. Excluding these divestments, the top 15 largest medtech firms managed to grow their workforces by an average of 6 percent.
Mergers and spin-offs typically drive employment trends in the medtech industry. Companies including Baxter International and Stryker grew through multibillion-dollar acquisitions of other medtech companies. Baxter was the fastest growing among the top 15 companies in 2013 thanks in part to its acquisition of Gambro, adding 10,000 employees for a growth rate of 20 percent.
However, acquisitions did not play a role for the number two-ranked hirer, Intuitive Surgical. Despite a tumultuous year, the firm brought on 28 new salespeople in 2013, an increase of 30 percent.
“There were a few eye-catching acquisitions and divestments in 2013, but overall, medtech companies increased their headcount slowly and steadily,” said Elizabeth Cairns, report author and EP Vantage medtech reporter. “The trend towards pharma spin-outs means large medtech is getting purer. And with several megamergers underway, we can expect to see much more drastic changes in device makers’ headcounts in the coming years.”
Of the top 15 device makers, only three experienced a reduction in headcount and two of those drops were due to companies spinning off their respective pharmaceutical operations. Excluding these divestments, the top 15 largest medtech firms managed to grow their workforces by an average of 6 percent.
Mergers and spin-offs typically drive employment trends in the medtech industry. Companies including Baxter International and Stryker grew through multibillion-dollar acquisitions of other medtech companies. Baxter was the fastest growing among the top 15 companies in 2013 thanks in part to its acquisition of Gambro, adding 10,000 employees for a growth rate of 20 percent.
However, acquisitions did not play a role for the number two-ranked hirer, Intuitive Surgical. Despite a tumultuous year, the firm brought on 28 new salespeople in 2013, an increase of 30 percent.
“There were a few eye-catching acquisitions and divestments in 2013, but overall, medtech companies increased their headcount slowly and steadily,” said Elizabeth Cairns, report author and EP Vantage medtech reporter. “The trend towards pharma spin-outs means large medtech is getting purer. And with several megamergers underway, we can expect to see much more drastic changes in device makers’ headcounts in the coming years.”