Riza Austin, a medical technician at Biomedical Structures, uses a microscope to examine fibers. The Providence Journal / Kathy Borchers

There are 73,700 Rhode Islanders out of work, but leaders of one emerging industry — bioscience — say they can’t find enough qualified applicants to fill vacant jobs.

About 56 percent of the state’s bioscience companies, including those that work with pharmaceuticals, medical devices, research and agricultural feedstock, identified the lack of skilled workers as a top work-force challenge, according to a recent survey by the Tech Collective, an industry association. Some companies reported that it can take up to a year to hire senior-level workers.

One of those companies is Biomedical Structures, in Warwick. The company has 18 employees and makes textile-based devices designed to be implanted into people, used for everything from rotator cuff-repair to pelvic-floor reconstruction.

John Gray, president, said that for every four job seekers who apply for work at his company, only one is suitable for employment.

Gray said the company trains workers for specific jobs, but there are certain qualities the company seeks, such as the ability to work in the metric system, a capability for highly precise documentation, and the right mindset to work in a “clean room” where the slightest contamination can be disastrous.

Those workers are hard to find, said Gray.

Gray was a member of the task force that produced the Tech Collective report, which was done with the University of Rhode Island and the Governor’s Workforce Board, an organization that tries to match job skills with available opportunities.

The report was compiled from interviews, an online survey and three public forums.

There are about 4,700 employees at bioscience companies in Rhode Island, the report showed. Bioscience professionals surveyed expected to see job growth of between 129 and 550 positions over the next two to three years, although that figure only reflects companies that responded to the survey by the Tech Collective, an association of high- tech firms.

Kathie Shields, executive director of the Tech Collective, estimated job growth at 10 to 12 percent through 2012, which would translate into about 500 jobs. “We know that’s not a big chunk of the work force; we’re realistic about that,” she said. “But these are high-wage, high-impact jobs. Bioscience is one pocket of high-tech industry in the state.”

The Tech Collective identified existing bioscience training programs, at the University of Rhode Island, Community College of Rhode Island, Roger Williams University, Brown University and Bryant University. The report recommended expanding the programs, providing more scholarship funding, and aligning curriculums more closely with industry requirements.

Shields said she is aware of the state’s financial crunch and its impact on publicly funded schools such as URI and CCRI. She said increased federal grants and partnerships with the bioscience industry could help provide solutions.

Greg Paquette, director of biotechnology programs at URI, said about 25 students each year go through the school’s one-year biotechnology manufacturing certificate program at its downtown Providence campus. Most students then find work in the field, but also continue their education to receive a bachelor’s degree.

Paquette said the school obtained a federal grant to help students with tuition during the first four years of the program, which started in 2002. He said URI is currently applying for another grant. He pointed out the biotech education is “resource heavy” — meaning it requires a lot of expensive, high-tech equipment.

Peter Woodberry, dean of business, science and technology at CCRI, said the school has about a dozen students in its biotechnology certificate program. Woodberry said the school is using URI’s lab facilities.

“Our best strategy, with the economic climate we have, is sharing resources,” he said.

The Tech Collective report recommends expanding bioscience programs in the public schools and starting a publicity campaign to increase awareness of bioscience careers. An education study issued this year by the Biotechnology Industry Organization, a national industry group, ranked Rhode Island in the second tier of states (out of four) when it comes to science education. Among the “leaders of the pack” in the first tier are Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont.

Paquette said he’s encouraged by research initiatives coming out of Brown and URI, and believes they can deliver economic rewards if the state is prepared.

“Biotech start-up companies come out of research and educational institutions,” he said. “But unless you have the work force, the infrastructure and the right economic policies, they won’t stay here.”

BY THE NUMBERS

Bioscience in R.I. 4,700

Employees at state

bioscience companies 120-140

Bioscience companies$64,785

Average annual salary

of bioscience worker$270 million

Wages paid by R.I.

bioscience companies

asmith@projo.com

Correction: The number of unemployed Rhode Islanders was incorrect in a previous version of this report. The correct number is 73,700.