Browse Skills life sciences

life sciences

🏛️ Enduring ESCO reuse: cross-sector

The study of the processes related to cells, molecules and living organisms.

life sciences — the study of the processes related to cells, molecules and living organisms. McKinsey's Skill Change Index places it in the enduring band (SCI 50.25/100) — a human-connection anchor whose value is projected to hold or grow through 2030. ESCO classifies it as a cross-sector (useful across many industries) skill within knowledge. It is currently listed by 10 occupations in our catalogue, including Microbiologists, biochemical engineer, biochemist, and bioengineer.

Category: knowledge › biology SCI: 50.25/100 Also known as: living organisms science

Occupations that require life sciences

Showing top 10 of 10 occupations · ranked by India employment volume, then AI-durability.

Microbiologists · 🤖 4.7/10
biochemical engineer · 🤖 5.0/10
biochemist · 🤖 5.0/10
bioengineer · 🤖 5.0/10
biometrician · 🤖 5.0/10
biophysicist · 🤖 5.0/10
biotechnical technician · 🤖 5.0/10
immunologist · 🤖 5.0/10
pharmacologist · 🤖 5.0/10
toxicologist · 🤖 5.0/10

Frequently asked questions

What is life sciences?

The study of the processes related to cells, molecules and living organisms.

What category of skill is life sciences?

ESCO classifies life sciences under the knowledge category, specifically in the biology subcategory.

Is life sciences an AI-durable skill?

McKinsey's Skill Change Index places it in the enduring band (SCI 50.25/100) — a human-connection anchor whose value is projected to hold or grow through 2030. This is a durable skill to invest in — high human-connection skills consistently resist automation.

Which jobs require life sciences?

In our catalogue, 10 occupations list life sciences as a required or important skill. The top occupations by employment volume include Microbiologists, biochemical engineer, biochemist, bioengineer, biometrician, biophysicist.

How transferable is life sciences between industries?

ESCO tags life sciences as a cross-sector (useful across many industries) skill — a signal of how portable it is when you change field.

Is life sciences the same as living organisms science?

Yes — life sciences is also known as living organisms science. They refer to the same underlying capability in the ESCO taxonomy.

How can I learn life sciences?

The most reliable path is to pick a job or project that demands life sciences and learn through delivery. Complement that with role-specific roadmaps and short courses. Explore the occupations below to see where this skill is used in practice.

Data: ESCO v1.2.1 (CC-BY-4.0). Durability framework informed by McKinsey Global Institute (Nov 2025). See our methodology.