Johnson & Johnson has unveiled plans to invest more than $55 billion in the United States over the next four years.
The move represents a 25% increase on its previous investment cycle and is aimed at expanding the company’s footprint across manufacturing, research, and advanced technologies.
It’s a clear signal that the healthcare giant is doubling down on US-based innovation, with thousands of new jobs expected as a result.
Key investments across facilities, R&D, and tech
The funding will be split across several high-impact areas. Three new advanced manufacturing facilities are planned, alongside expansions to existing sites in the company’s Innovative Medicine and MedTech divisions.
These will support the creation of high-skill, high-wage jobs in sectors like pharmaceuticals, biotech, and medical devices.
Significant investment will also go into research and development infrastructure. Johnson & Johnson will focus on oncology, neuroscience, immunology, cardiovascular health, and robotic surgery.
The company says it is investing in technologies that speed up drug discovery, improve training, and modernise business operations—part of a push to stay at the forefront of life sciences innovation.
Joaquin Duato, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Johnson & Johnson, said:
“Today’s announcements accelerate our nearly 140-year legacy as an American innovation engine tackling the world’s toughest healthcare challenges.
“Our increased US investment begins with the ground-breaking of a high-tech facility in North Carolina that will not only add US-based jobs but manufacture cutting edge medicines to treat patients in America and around the world.”
North Carolina to lead the way
The first project under this initiative is already underway. Johnson & Johnson has broken ground on a new 500,000 square foot biologics manufacturing facility in Wilson, North Carolina.
It will produce advanced therapies for cancer, autoimmune disorders, and neurological diseases.
The facility is expected to support 5,000 construction jobs and create more than 500 full-time roles once operational.
Over its first 10 years, it’s projected to generate $3 billion in economic activity across the state. The Wilson site highlights the company’s strategy of locating large-scale facilities outside major metro areas—bringing economic growth to regional labour markets.
Job market implications
For job seekers, this investment opens up opportunities across a wide range of disciplines.
Roles in biotech manufacturing, engineering, digital health, automation, and data science are likely to increase. Entry-level and mid-level positions in logistics, compliance, and facility operations will also follow as sites come online.
Employers in related industries should also expect ripple effects.
Competition for skilled workers in pharma, medtech, and supply chain sectors is likely to rise, particularly in the Southeastern US.
Wage pressure and localised talent shortages could follow, making talent retention and upskilling even more critical.
The broader healthcare jobs picture
This move strengthens an already growing trend of onshoring key parts of the healthcare supply chain.
It also reinforces the continued convergence of healthcare and technology, with companies seeking employees who can operate across both domains.
The healthcare and life sciences sector already employs over 20 million Americans, and Johnson & Johnson’s plans will push that figure higher.
Looking ahead
Further details about the locations of the remaining two new manufacturing sites are expected soon. Johnson & Johnson has said its latest U. investment strategy was influenced by incentives created through the 2017 Tax Cuts & Jobs Act, which made large-scale domestic projects more attractive.
For now, what’s clear is that this $55 billion commitment is more than a headline—it’s a sign of how major players in healthcare are reshaping the US employment landscape.
For job seekers, employers, and policymakers alike, it’s a development worth watching closely.
