	This week, Randstad Sourceright released its report, “How is Key Talent in the US Impacted by COVID-19?” The report analyzes data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, World Health Organization, job boards, career sites, and social media postings to map the demand for key jobs in the US.

	The report identifies the changes in demand for key jobs across six job families between January 2019 and April 2020, one of which is chemistry (pharmaceutical R&D).

	While there has been a 17% decrease in overall pharma R&D jobs from February to March, the demand for clinical research associates and trial managers has increased by 46%, making it one of the few industries that has had to increase hiring since the start of the pandemic. These were identified as the two most sought after roles in pharma R&D. It is projected that the pandemic will accelerate the shortage of talent and increase recruitment activities for these roles.

	The report aims to identify the shift in demand for certain skills, which will inform employers on how to be more prepared to recruit and hire once things return to normal.