The world could face a shortage of up to 30m project professionals by 2035, according to the latest Global Project Management Talent Gap report from the Project Management Institute (PMI).
Due to rapid digital transformation and large-scale infrastructure projects, the need for skilled project managers is reaching unprecedented levels. Currently, there are nearly 40m project professionals in the global workforce-outnumbering both software developers (25m) and nurses (30m).
Yet, demand is accelerating sharply, particularly in high-growth regions such as South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and China. These regions are experiencing a surge in infrastructure investment, industrial expansion, and digital innovation, all of which are fuelling the need for project management expertise.
“Our world is in flux: economically, politically, environmentally. The need for change is everywhere. And change only happens through successful projects,” said Pierre Le Manh, PMP, president and CEO of PMI, “That makes this a defining moment for project professionals. We don’t just need millions more of them, we need them ready to lead, to deliver, to turn bold ideas into real and sustainable outcomes.”
Key findings from the PMI report include the idea that up to 29.8m new project professionals will be needed globally by 2035 and that fastest growth is projected in South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and China due to infrastructure and digital transformation.
Sectors under greatest pressure include construction, manufacturing, IT services and healthcare, with demand for project managers expected to rise by as much as 66%. Mature economies such as North America and Europe face stagnating supply, as ageing populations and shifting workforce trends limit the number of available project managers.
The report’s methodology involved analysing 172 project-related job titles across more than 180 countries, using LinkedIn Talent Insights data and adjusting for regional adoption rates.
The PMI’s findings echo the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, which ranks project management as the 12th fastest-growing job globally and highlights its crucial role in driving net employment growth to 2030.
Read the Global Project Management Talent Gap report here.
