FDA details hiring challenges

An FDA report to Congress describes why the agency finds it difficult to hire and retain staff, as well as steps it is taking to implement new authorities that are intended to make FDA more attractive to employees with necessary skills. The reports noted that FDA pays far less than the private sector for numerous positions, and it has a lengthy and cumbersome hiring process.

“Market research shows that many of FDA’s mission-critical occupations (MCOs), such as toxicologists, pharmacists, and veterinarians, are the occupations with the largest gaps in government pay compared to the private sector,” according to the report. ...