New BIO and CSBA Data Shows California Remains the Nation’s Largest Bioscience Employer
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., October 28, 2026 — Today, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) and the Council of State Bioscience Associations (CSBA), of which California Life Sciences (CLS) is a member, released new national and state-level data on the U.S. bioscience industry’s economic impact, including findings on California’s continued leadership.
The report, “The U.S. Bioscience Economy: Advancing Innovation and Strengthening States and Regions,” prepared by TEConomy Partners, examines the industry’s economic footprint through employment, wages, business establishments, university research and development, access to capital, and other measures.
According to the report, the U.S. bioscience industry generated $3.19 trillion in total economic output in 2025 and directly employed 2.31 million people, a 7% increase from 2021. The data shows an industry with a broad-based footprint, with growth extending across states and regions of every size.
California remained the nation’s largest bioscience employer in 2025, with industry employment 25% above the national average. The state’s bioscience sector supports hundreds of thousands of jobs and contributes billions of dollars to California’s economy, anchored by a network of research universities, startups, established companies, and service providers. Sustaining that leadership, in California and across the country, depends on the conditions states create to attract research investment, company formation, and advanced manufacturing.
“America’s edge comes from its regional ecosystems: the research universities, startups, and manufacturers that states work hard to attract and grow. This report shows that strength reaches well beyond a few major hubs into communities of every size. If we want the next generation of medicines invented and made in America, states will be on the front lines,” said Mike Guerra, President and CEO of California Life Sciences (CLS) and Chair of the Council of State Bioscience Associations (CSBA).
Download the full report here.
Download the California fact sheet here.
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About California Life Sciences: California Life Sciences (CLS) is the state’s leading advocate for the life sciences. We represent the entire innovation ecosystem, from startups and global companies to research institutions and service providers. We champion smart policy, foster strategic connections, and deliver resources that help life sciences companies grow and thrive. Based in the global epicenter of innovation, we work to ensure that the discoveries made here translate into healthier lives everywhere.
About BIO: BIO is the premier biotechnology advocacy organization representing biotech companies, industry leaders, and state biotech associations in the United States and more than 35 countries around the globe. BIO members range from biotech start-ups to some of the world’s largest biopharmaceutical companies – all united by the same goal: to develop medical and scientific breakthroughs that prevent and fight disease, restore health, and improve patients’ lives. BIO also organizes the BIO International Convention and a series of annual conferences that drive partnerships, investment, and progress within the sector. Learn more at bio.org.
About Council of State Bioscience Associations: The Council of State Bioscience Associations (CSBA) is a coalition of independent state and territory based non-profit trade associations, each of which advocates for public policies that support responsible development and delivery of innovative life-sustaining and life-saving biotechnology solutions. Convened by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), CSBA’s collective voice represents the true grassroots network of innovators, researchers, manufacturers, and accelerators across the country.
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