Is Job Security Throwing You Off Balance? - Pharmaceutical Technology

Latest Issue
PharmTech

Latest Issue
PharmTech Europe

  • Search
  • Suppliers
  • Careers

Enter a company or product name

KeywordLocation
About Search
Is Job Security Throwing You Off Balance?
Results from Pharmaceutical Technology's Annual Employment Survey
Dec 2, 2008
By: Maribel Rios
Pharmaceutical Technology
 Volume 32, Issue 12, pp. 38-44
« Previous
123

Attitudes toward current employment


Table IV: Opinions toward current employment.
Survey participants indicated how strongly they agreed or disagreed with the following statements:
  • I believe my work is fully valued by my employer.
  • I believe my present job is secure.
  • In my present job, I use my skills and training to the fullest extent.
  • Given the opportunity, I would leave my present job.


Retrospective
Results are shown in Table IV. Of note is that the percentage of respondents who agreed or strongly agreed that their job was secure is the lowest (55%) since 2000, (see sidebar, "Retrospective" and Table IV).

Income, intellectual challenge, the work–personal life balance, and the opportunity for professional advancement were the four most important factors that would be taken into consideration for making a change in employment. Scientific opportunities were the least important factor for making a job change, followed by vacation time, pension or retirement benefits, and geographic location.

Survey participants were asked to anonymously describe what they enjoy most and least in their jobs. Some of these comments are listed in the "Viewpoint" column on page 74. In general, although employees enjoyed the scientific challenge and, in some cases, the flexible work hours of their jobs, complaints regarding the worry over job security, "overwhelming numbers of initiatives," and "unrealistic" timelines were prominent.

Preferred employer. Pharmaceutical industry employees were less certain that they would stay in their current position next year. About 52% (compared with 67% and 64% in 2007 and 2006, respectively) said it was unlikely or very unlikely that they would change employment within the next year. If they were to make job changes, however, 68% of respondents would prefer to work in private industry.


Table V: Importance of various skills in performing daily tasks.
Essential skills and knowledge. Participants provided their opinion of the importance of knowledge and skills in various areas (see Table V). Not surprisingly, knowledge of good manufacturing practice related issues and process validation continue to be most important. What is surprising, however, is the 77% of respondents, a significant increase over last year, who indicated that skills in computer-based systems, including database management was important.


Table VI: Influence of regulatory guidelines.
Skills in automation and statistical process control are also desired, which can be attributed to a need for employees knowledgeable about the US Food and Drug Administration's initiatives (see Table VI).

« Previous
123

ADVERTISEMENT

post a comment
Please complete the form below to post your comment.
Bold = Required
Email Address Your email address will NOT be published.
Display Name appears with your comment
City
State
Country
Remember me: YesNo
Comment read our privacy policy
Note: does not support HTML
All comments submitted are subject to review, and may be delayed before posting. We reserve the right not to post comments.
About the Author

Maribel Rios

Senior Editor, Pharmaceutical Technology.

See Maribel Rios's bio page. Articles by Maribel Rios

LCGC E-mail Newsletters
Subscribe:Check the box next to each newsletter you wish to subscribe for:
| Weekly
| Monthly
| Monthly | Weekly
 Name:
 E-mail:

Survey
At this month's AAPS Annual Meeting & Exposition, several graduate students were awarded as young innovators. What are your thoughts on innovation and the next generation?
We need more young innovators and more students enrolling in pharma science programs
Our industry has just the right mix of young and old to keep innovation going
Age is irrelevant when it comes to innovation
We need more young innovators and more students enrolling in pharma science programs
25%
Our industry has just the right mix of young and old to keep innovation going
16%
Age is irrelevant when it comes to innovation
59%
View Results
Jim MillerOutsourcing OutlookJim Miller Facing Reality
Patricia Van ArnumIngredients InsiderPatricia Van Arnum Advancing Chiral Chemistry in API Synthesis
Faiz kermaniSpotlightFaiz Kermani Demographic time bomb
Rx-360 Takes on Europe, Talks to PharmTech in Podcast Series
Sanctions, Not Barcodes
Vaccines Finding Their Way in Novel Applications
Genzyme’s Friday the 13th
DTCA: Beneficial or Harmful?

FindPharma Custom Search
Featured Jobs

More Jobs

Source: Pharmaceutical Technology, 12/2/2008
Click here