BOSTON (WTAQ) - Wisconsin has one of the fastest-growing bioscience industries in the nation.

That’s according to a new report from the consulting firm of Battelle.

It said Wisconsin was among 8 states where bioscience employment grew by over 5 percent from 2008 through 2010 – while 6.5 percent of other private sector jobs disappeared due to the Great Recession.

The Badger State had 1,300 bioscience businesses employing over 31,000 people in 2010. The largest sectors were for medical devices and bioscience distribution.

Battelle said the average bioscience job was paying $67,000 in Wisconsin in 2010 – almost twice as much as other private sector jobs at the time.

Wednesday’s report was released at the annual Bio International Convention in Boston.