In Tampa, life sciences and healthcare employment in the metro area continues to fare better than the U.S. job market seeing a growth of 15% in the past five years compared to national average of 12%. And over the next five years, employment is projected to grow 8% – outpacing the national average by 5%.

Local universities are producing more talent, too. Between 2016 and 2020, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics and statistics, engineering and biological and biomedical sciences are growing faster than the state of Florida.

In recent years, globally renowned corporations such as Bristol Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson, Amgen, and Pfizer have chosen Hillsborough County as sites for major North American operations. They join local institutions such as Moffitt Cancer Center, LifeLink, and Lion’s Eye Institute in contributing to Tampa’s growing reputation for research and development.

The area has also attracted medical research and life sciences companies like Axogen, Bausch & Lomb Pharmaceuticals, M2Gen, Morphogenesis, and Vycellix, which are producing innovative solutions and developing effective treatments for various diseases. These companies join a stellar list of life sciences companies already in the area with specialties ranging from global operations, R&D, and advanced manufacturing.

Learn more about the life sciences and healthcare sector’s local workforce, education partners and ecosystem in our industry overview.

Fast Facts:

• Tampa General Hospital, recognized as one of America’s Best Hospitals in six specialties by U.S. News & World Report and one of the busiest transplant centers in the nation, recently performed its 10,000th transplant
• Moffitt Cancer Center has been recognized as a top rated cancer hospital in the nation by U.S. News & World Report since 1999, and is Florida’s only Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Top sectors: medical equipment manufacturing, medical diagnostic laboratories, scientific research and development, pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing
• Leading employers: Amgen, Axogen, Bausch & Lomb, Bristol Myers Squibb, Florida Blue, Johnson & Johnson, LifeLink, Lions Eye Institute, M2Gen, Moffitt Cancer Center, Morphogenesis, Pfizer, Quest Diagnostics, Ultimate Medical Academy

I think the community, and the region at large, are going to benefit significantly from our ability to collaborate and innovate faster. We’re not only getting closer geographically, but we’re collaborating in ways we haven’t collaborated in the last 40 years around medical science, new programs and new services. It’s an exciting time.

– John Couris, president and CEO, Tampa General Hospital (speaking to TGH’s partnership with USF and the impact of moving the medical school to downtown Tampa)