Growth in the field of clinical research management may not be keeping pace with the demand of clinical trials for experienced professionals to run them, according to a new report.

Monthly job postings for all clinical research positions have increased 9.3 percent over the past three years, according to a survey conducted by the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) in cooperation with TEConomy Partners. But that number trails behind the 12.2 percent growth in clinical trial activities from 2016 to 2019.

Growth of job opportunities has been strongest for clinical trial assistants, clinical trial managers and clinical research coordinators (CRC), the survey shows, with increases in job postings for these titles totaling 13.5 percent, 12.8 percent and 11.2 percent respectively. By contrast, clinical research associates (CRA) experienced the least growth, only 5.3 percent, while clinical trial specialists saw 10 percent growth and research nurses 7.6 percent growth since 2016.

The survey also found that, while slightly more than half of clinical research positions posted required applicants to have at least a bachelor’s degree, more than one-third of postings have no minimum experience requirements and half require three or fewer years of experience.

Geographically, 39 major metropolitan areas, mostly located on the East or West coasts, filled at least 500 clinical research positions each over the past three years. California had the highest total volume of job postings (about 16,600) in the country. Most job posting activity, ACRP says, is driven by major CROs, hospital systems and biomedical staffing agencies.

ACRP notes that estimating employment rates for clinical research professionals is hampered by the fact that there is no clear definition of the various job titles and their roles. Competencies needed in a clinical trial workforce need to be defined and standardized, ACRP concludes, a goal that the association’s Partners in Workforce Advancement program is working toward.

To download a free copy of the report, click here: https://bit.ly/2AyAleb.