Critical Talent Crunch Looms, 30 Million Project Professionals Needed Globally by 2035, PMI Warns
George Asamani, MD, PMI Sub-Saharan Africa
The global economy is racing toward a severe project management talent crunch, with a shortfall of up to 30 million project professionals expected by 2035. This stark forecast comes from the newly released Global Project Management Talent Gap report by the Project Management Institute (PMI), highlighting a critical workforce challenge amidst accelerating digital transformation, economic uncertainty, and infrastructure expansion.
Project professionals—already 40 million strong now outnumber software developers globally and rival the nursing workforce. Yet, demand is outpacing supply, especially in fast-growing regions like South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and China, where large-scale infrastructure and industrial growth are driving a surge in project-related roles.
“Our world is in flux: economically, politically, environmentally,” said Pierre Le Manh, President and CEO of PMI. “Change only happens through successful projects. That makes this a defining moment for project professionals. The talent gap isn’t just a workforce issue it’s a barrier to global progress.”
In Sub-Saharan Africa alone, the number of project professionals needed is projected to soar by nearly 75% from 2.6 million today to 4.6 million by 2035. George Asamani, Managing Director of PMI Sub-Saharan Africa, emphasized the urgency: “To bridge this gap, we must invest in professional training, foster university partnerships, and expand access to globally recognized certifications.”
The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 also underscores the importance of project managers, listing them among the top roles driving global employment growth through 2030.
Key sectors construction, manufacturing, IT services, and healthcare are seeing demand spikes as high as 66%. However, mature economies face an additional challenge: aging workforces and limited talent pipelines.
PMI’s report urges immediate action, including large-scale reskilling and strategic investment in modern project talent. As global competition intensifies, organizations that equip themselves with skilled project professionals will gain a decisive edge in execution and innovation.
These pressing issues will take center stage at the PMI Global Summit Series Africa, set for August 19–21, 2025, in Kigali, Rwanda, where regional strategies and solutions will be explored.
With the future of development hinging on successful projects, the need for capable, visionary project professionals has never been more urgent. The world isn’t just facing a talent gap—it’s standing at the threshold of a transformation led by those ready
By Brenda Rawer
