Mobility for Flexibility? Regulatory Career Motivations 2026

Dennis Partners conducted our annual survey on Regulatory Career Motivations during the week of February 16, 2026. Since the start of The Great Resignation in 2021, Regulatory Affairs professionals have continued to reassess what matters most in their careers — with flexibility, culture, and long-term stability shaping decision-making now more than ever. To understand how Regulatory professionals feel about their jobs in 2026 and compared to previous years, we surveyed Regulatory professionals across the biotech, pharmaceutical, and diagnostic industries. Here is what we found.

Are you considering changing jobs this year?

In 2026, 52% of Regulatory Affairs professionals report they are considering a job change. Of those:

• 39% are currently employed and open to new opportunities
• 13% are unemployed and actively seeking
• 48% are not considering a change

While slightly lower than last year’s peak of 59%, the past 2 years have shown the highest percentage of Regulatory professionals considering a new position since we began tracking this data, with more than half of the Regulatory workforce remaining open to movement.

For those professionals considering a job change, we asked:

If yes, what would motivate you to switch? (select all that apply)

Remote work options continue to heavily influence employed professionals (80%) exploring new opportunities. Compensation remains highly influential (56%), though culture and people are second most important (65%) to Regulatory professionals considering a new position. We are also seeing a continued high number of respondents choose Challenging Responsibilities (43%) as a motivating factor for the second year in a row. Pay Transparency is nearly twice as important to respondents as it was just a year ago.

Compared to previous years, we continue to see:

• Strong emphasis on remote/hybrid flexibility
• Sustained importance of competitive compensation
• Growing focus on Culture/People and leadership quality
• Continued interest in company financial stability
• Career advancement opportunities ranking below flexibility and culture but higher than last year

Notably, culture continues to rise as a differentiator, suggesting professionals are prioritizing long-term alignment over short-term incentives.

Several respondents provided valuable insights reflecting a desire for greater flexibility:

“Time flexibility”

“Hybrid with more flexibility than 3 days per week in an office”

“Work reduced hours”

For unemployed Regulatory professionals, priorities shift slightly.

Among professionals actively seeking roles, the top motivators include:

• Culture and team environment
• Remote flexibility
• Compensation/Benefits

For those re-entering the workforce, culture and people (70%) edge out remote work (67%) as the top priority. Stability and compensation are also more prominent considerations compared to employed job seekers as well as to previous years, suggesting that security and team dynamics are more critical now than ever for professionals navigating career transitions.

This indicates that professionals re-entering the workforce are looking not just for employment, but for alignment, engagement, and flexibility.

To better understand what companies are doing right to retain Regulatory employees, we asked:

If not, what keeps you in your current position? (select all that apply)

For the sixth consecutive year, remote work remains the top retention factor (82%).

Compensation and benefits (66%) and Culture/People (58%) are other top motivators. Compensation, Challenging Responsibilities, Company Financial Stability, and Pay Transparency are more important now than in previous years. Notably, career advancement ranks very low among retention drivers, suggesting that professionals are more influenced by day-to-day experience, flexibility, and financial reward than long-term promotional pathways.

Several respondents provided deeper insights into why they aren’t considering a job change:

“Uncertainty about the job market”

“Flexibility with work schedule”

“Flexibility in projects”

“Balance between work and taking care of kids”

The data continues to show that professionals stay where they feel:

• Trusted and empowered to work flexibly
• Connected to their team and leadership
• Fairly compensated

Key Takeaways:

• More than half (52%) of Regulatory professionals are open to changing jobs in 2026, signaling continued market mobility.
• Remote and hybrid flexibility remain the strongest drivers of both job change and retention.
• Culture and leadership quality are increasingly influential, nearly rivaling compensation in importance for both employed and unemployed regulatory professionals.
• Compensation remains critical but is no longer the sole differentiator.
• Unemployed professionals prioritize meaningful responsibilities, stability, and transparency alongside flexibility.

Importantly, the majority of professionals considering a move are currently employed — meaning they must be proactively and strategically engaged.

As bonus season approaches and companies refine 2026 workforce plans, organizations that offer flexibility, strong culture, competitive compensation, and organizational stability will be best positioned to attract and retain top Regulatory talent.

At Dennis Partners, we specialize in identifying and attracting top-tier Regulatory professionals by going beyond resumes to understand motivations, career drivers, and long-term goals. Whether you are evaluating your hiring strategy or exploring your next career move, we provide tailored, data-driven solutions to help you succeed.

Contact us today to learn how we can help you achieve your Regulatory hiring and career goals in 2026.