How Biotech Boosts American Union Construction Workers

A common depiction of a U.S. biopharmaceutical industry worker shows someone working alone in a sterile lab environment. They wear a medical-grade mask covering their face and have their hair contained in a net. They look closely at something microscopic yet important.

That visual is certainly accurate but, naturally, fails to capture the 5 million-plus U.S. employees that the life science industry supports, including the skilled workers who build those world-class lab facilities. A new study reinforces that.

The Pharmaceutical Industry Labor-Management Association (PILMA) recently released findings on how pharmaceutical and biotech companies contribute to the U.S. economy through infrastructure investment and job creation. The report emphasizes how union labor supports construction and expansion efforts across the sector.

Between 2019 and 2024, more than 1,000 large-scale construction projects started across 18 states. These projects accounted for $86.5 billion in infrastructure investment. Facilities built during this period include research labs, biomanufacturing plants and other critical components of the life sciences supply chain.

The construction workforce logged more than 65 million labor hours during that time. Wages paid totaled $2.6 billion. Companies donated $19.5 million to union apprenticeship programs, which prepare skilled workers for long-term careers in the building trades.

These projects featured a 70% increase in pharmaceutical-related construction investment, adjusted for inflation, over the study period. That increase has been driven by growing demand for advanced manufacturing of breakthrough therapies, and a wider industry shift to bring high-tech production closer to home.

The momentum is evident across regions, from the expansion of biomanufacturing clusters in North Carolina to new R&D facilities in the Midwest and Mountain West.

Investments have continued into 2025, as companies expand domestic manufacturing capacity.

Unfortunately, these jobs are in jeopardy. Policies like Most Favored Nation (MFN) drug pricing have the potential to redirect investment away from U.S.-based projects. The consequence for skilled laborers could be fewer jobs, fewer training opportunities, and slower infrastructure growth.

PILMA’s study provides a clear picture of how the biopharmaceutical sector supports U.S. employment and economic activity beyond its core focus on research and development. Investment in physical infrastructure enables innovation, strengthens the skilled trades, and contributes to local economies nationwide.