SHERIDAN, WYOMING – July 21, 2025 – Illinois' life sciences industry continues to demonstrate resilience and growth, underlining the state's standing as a regional powerhouse in biopharma employment. According to 2024 data from BIO and TEConomy Partners, Illinois employed 93,402 bioscience professionals across 4,926 businesses, marking a 7.5% increase in employment since 2019 — a growth trajectory that positions the state as a key hub within the BioMidwest Hotbed.
Steady Hiring Momentum in 2025
Recent job market indicators reveal that hiring activity in Illinois remains strong. BioSpace reports that job postings for the state during the first six months of 2025 showed an upward trend compared to the final four months of 2024. While year-over-year figures reflect a marginal 1.7% decrease from June 2024 to June 2025, the overall demand for life sciences talent in Illinois has held firm, underscoring market stability amid a competitive national landscape.
Six Key Employers Driving Opportunities
For professionals seeking opportunities in the Illinois biopharma sector, several leading companies are actively recruiting across various functions and locations. The following organizations stand out for their hiring activity:
- AbbVie
With over 200 open positions, AbbVie is expanding across multiple disciplines. Open roles include senior scientist II–process chemistry and radiochemistry in North Chicago, IT technical specialist (marketing data) in Mettawa, and clinical documentation associate II in Chicago. - Amgen
Amgen currently offers around 10 openings, featuring positions like counsel–global commercial operations in Deerfield, senior associate, marketing, ultra-rare disease in Evanston, and CD&A–competitive intelligence senior manager in Deerfield. - CSL
Offering both in-person and remote roles, CSL is seeking candidates for positions such as quality specialist in Waukegan, senior production engineer/system owner in Kankakee, and regional sales manager for North Central Chicago (remote). - Lundbeck
Lundbeck’s opportunities include lead data engineer in Deerfield, PV and GCP QA quality advisor in Deerfield, and director, regulatory affairs alliance and commercialization (remote) — highlighting both onsite and remote career paths. - Novo Nordisk
The company is hiring a pharma field sales–diabetes care specialist in Galesburg, reinforcing its commercial footprint in the region. - Takeda
With dozens of openings, Takeda offers a wide range of roles including operations support specialist in Bannockburn, associate director of quality control in Libertyville, and regional business manager–LSD–Illinois/Indiana (remote).
Illinois’ Competitive Edge in Life Sciences Employment
Illinois’ combination of established industry leaders, emerging biotech firms, and proximity to prestigious research institutions like the University of Chicago continues to attract both talent and investment. The sustained job market activity confirms the state’s strategic importance within the broader U.S. life sciences ecosystem.
For industry professionals seeking growth opportunities, Illinois remains a competitive market offering both career diversity and stability.
Learn more at www.biospace.com/careerinsider