The New York/New Jersey region is reinforcing its position as a leading U.S. life sciences hub, driven by renewed hiring, surging employment levels and increasing investor interest, according to CBRE’s 2026 Life Sciences Talent Trends report.
In the CBRE report, the New York City market, which includes Long Island, Westchester and adjacent counties to the north, posted the second-highest rate of job growth at 2.9% over the past year behind Chicago, when compared with the top 14 major cities in the nation.
Specifically, the workforce saw above-average growth over the last year in its core sectors of pharma and biotech, reaching a record of 23,643 jobs.
“The region continues to distinguish itself as one of the nation’s most dynamic life sciences markets,” said David Stockel, senior vice president, CBRE. “With record employment levels, a deep and diverse talent base, and continued leadership in life sciences manufacturing, the real estate sector is well-positioned to capture future growth.”
Overall, the New York and New Jersey markets ranked fourth in the nation for life-sciences talent and investment behind Boston-Cambridge, San Francisco Bay Area and Washington D.C.-Baltimore.
Nationally, core life sciences sectors, including biotechnology research and development and pharmaceutical manufacturing, recorded their strongest pace of job growth in nearly three years in early 2026. Biotechnology research and development employment, in particular, rose 2.7% year over year, reflecting renewed demand for highly skilled talent and supporting future growth in life sciences real estate.
The New York/New Jersey region offers occupiers access to a large, established workforce spanning research, development, manufacturing and medical technology disciplines. For investors, its scale, talent depth and manufacturing strength position the market for continued expansion as the life sciences sector enters its next growth phase.
The CBRE report reinforces the findings of a Colliers market study earlier this year that said the life sciences sector was growing steadily. That report said New Jersey is home to eight of the world’s top 10 biopharmaceutical companies.
New Jersey is strategically important for life sciences because of its position in the Northeast Corridor, with a strong transportation infrastructure, top-tier research universities, and a large, specialized workforce.