Click Graphic for Interactive Map

Life Sciences Industry Employment in Virginia, 2007



The National Science Foundation reports that almost 20,000 doctoral scientists and engineers are employed in Virginia-the tenth largest concentration in the nation. In terms of employment, in 2007, the life sciences industry accounted for nearly 33,000 jobs in Virginia. The Research and Testing sub sector clearly comprises the largest share of life sciences overall employment at 63%. Next is Medical Laboratories that makes up 17% (4,984 jobs) of the industry's employment, followed by Drugs and Pharmaceuticals, 12%, or 3,601 jobs, and finally, Medical Devices and Equipment, 8%, or 2,491 jobs.

Life Sciences Industry Firms in Virginia, 2007



In 2007, the life sciences industry accounted for over 630 firms in Virginia. Nearly 70% of life sciences companies in Virginia are in the Research and Testing sub sector, accounting for 440 firms. Medical Devices and Equipment has the second-highest concentration of businesses in Virginia with the life sciences sector at 14%. Medical Laboratories has 77 establishments in Virginia, thus capturing 12% of the life sciences industry presence in Virginia, followed by Drugs and Pharmaceuticals with 26 firms, or 4% of the overall life sciences presence.

Major Life Sciences Companies in Virginia

Virginia is a location of choice for a growing number of pharmaceutical, medical device and biotechnology firms. Situated between two states known for significant clusters of biotechnology companies—Maryland and North Carolina—Virginia's young, but rapidly growing life sciences sector is making a name for itself. In Virginia, companies find the space to grow and the business and cost environment necessary for long-term success.

Virginia's Research and Development Assets

Virginia is home to numerous R&D facilities which support life sciences, including:

Major Research Universities

New and Expanding Life Sciences Companies in Virginia:

Over the past decade, the private sector has announced over 4,100 new jobs and $2.1 billion investment for life science research, development and manufacturing in Virginia.

Education for the Life Sciences Workforce

Life Sciences Programs and Graduates
Virginia universities are graduating significant numbers of students with the technical skills that life science and pharmaceutical companies need. In Virginia, one in every three adults holds a bachelor's or advanced degree, and over 80 percent of all high school students continue their education after graduation. There are seven Carnegie Foundation classified "doctoral high and very high activity" research universities, three academic medical centers, a college of veterinary medicine and a school of biomedical engineering and sciences in the Commonwealth to prepare students for careers in the life sciences.