Young people in Pharma
With the aim of accessing the job offers that best fit each profile, the Jóvenes en Farma website has recently been launched. It is a space where young people can see first-hand the opportunities opportunities offered by the sectorThe Jóvenes en Farma website is aimed at both university-educated and vocational-trained young people. Like the industry, Jóvenes en Farma is constantly updated with key information on the sector, practical advice, direct connections with companies and information on the most in-demand profiles of the moment. “Almost 10,000 new jobs will be created in the next few years for those people under 30 years of age,” highlighted the president of Farmaindustria. Raquel Yotti, PERTE commissioner for Cutting-edge Health of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, also spoke at the beginning of the event. Yotti pointed out regarding the youngest in the industry that “they are the most innovative generation.Young people are witnessing an unprecedented technological revolution. And at a speed that older people cannot keep up with.” The industry is going through a good moment and the figures prove it. In Yotti’s words, it is in the pharmaceutical sector where the most positive evolution is seen in Spain. “Equal employment, inclusive employment, equality and quality.” In addition, the diversity of contracts is also reflected in the group of those over 55 years of agewhich has gone from 11.9% in 2017 to exceed 15% in 2023.
The experience of the youngest
After the first interventions, some young workers in the sector told in first person their personal and work experience in the pharmaceutical sector. And they did it with the help of Laura Podo, Human Resources Manager at Lilly, who hosted the table. They participated in it:
- Ignacio Santosresponsible for qualifications and maintenance at Reig Jofre.
- Ignacio Martinproduct manager at Grünenthal Pharma.
- Diana Reyessenior scientist at Almirall.
- Carolina Meleromedical advisor at Jazz Pharmaceuticals.
- Natalia LopezRoche portfolio management.
- Annabel Cuencachemical operator at Casen Recordati.
Just as Jesús Ponce did at the beginning of the event, the youngest workers in the sector also highlighted the Pride of belonging and opportunity that the pharmaceutical sector had brought them. Thus, the reconciliation between work and personal life was another of the points addressed. And, thanks to the facilities and flexibility that the companies in which they work have offered them, they have been able to combine their work with their family life or continue training and studying, among other examples.
presence of women
The pharmaceutical industry is a benchmark for employment in Spain, but it is also egalitarian, since, currently, Women on management committees make up 45.2%, compared to 54.8% of men, over the total number of employees. And, in the overall industry workforce, women make up 56.1%, while men make up 43.9%. To talk precisely about these figures and put first-hand information on the table, they debated:
- Sandra Ortageneral director of Bristol Myers Squibb for Spain and Portugal.
- Lydia Martinmanaging director of Almirall.
- Inmaculada Gilgeneral director of Daiichi Sankyo Spain.
Constant improvement
Ana Bosch, Director of the Legal Department of Farmaindustria, was in charge of moderating a panel full of positive experiences, not exempt from work and effort after many years of dedication in the sector. The General Director of Daiichi Sankyo Spain, Inmaculada Gil, referring to young people and the future, highlighted the importance of “educate our youth. “We each have to take care of our personal development plan.” Furthermore, according to her personal experience, she considers that she has been lucky – not without effort – and that she has not had to prove more for being a woman. “What’s more, in 1997, when I was eight months pregnant, she was an expert in a fundamental area related to HIV research, my expertise led me to change jobs while in that state,” she concluded. According to Lidia Martín, general director of Almirall, it is necessary to continue working and strengthening equality and parity in the world of work. “I don’t want them to give me the job because I’m a woman, but I don’t want them to not give it to me either.” “I have never put a ceiling on myself”she concluded. However, Sandra Orta believes that she has had -on more than one occasion- the feeling of having to “prove more” for being a woman and, furthermore, younger than the average of her colleagues. “Now there comes a point where I don’t feel that way, but In my years of career yes and it has been difficultthe truth,” he noted.
Growth future
Juan Yermo, general director of Farmaindustria, was in charge of dismissing an event in which, despite the good figures provided, he indicated that we cannot let our guard down. And the constant evolution of new technologies and the advancement of science mean that stagnating or stopping is not an option for the sector. According to Yermo, “in this last year, 2,000 more jobs have been created. A growth of approximately 26% in the last six years. In addition, there are more women than men and we have parity in the management committees,” she said proudly. With these data on the table and being a benchmark industry for other sectors, the Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Elma Saiz, closed the event. And Yermo gave her the floor with the firm commitment of further improve and not be satisfied with these latest figures. The minister, during her speech, encouraged “promote coexistence and collaboration in all areas, and particularly in productive activity and in the labour market. And that is a key factor if we want to address the future,” he concluded.
