PMI Global Project Management Talent Gap

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Welcome to my ‘Reading Insights‘ series. Here is where I share simple takeaways and personal thoughts from articles, papers, and other readings that caught my attention.

Together, we’ll explore ideas beyond the “Book Notes” series that help us to improve how we think about management, leadership, and personal growth.

So grab a cup of coffee, and let’s dive into some interesting insights!

And what are we reading today?

Today, we will talk about the new “PMI Global Project Management Talent Gap” from the Project Management Institute

The latest data from the Project Management Institute paints a very clear picture. Project management is not just growing. It’s becoming one of the most critical careers for the next decade.

In this post, I’ll break down the 2025 edition of PMI’s Global Project Management Talent Gap report. It’s packed with insights on where the profession is heading, which regions and industries are growing fastest, and what we need to do to close the gap between demand and supply.

There are no predictions here. Just facts.

We’ll walk through the numbers, the risks, and the opportunities. And if you work with projects in any form, you’ll want to know what’s coming.

Let’s begin with the big number on the Project Management Talent Gap

According to the report, there are nearly 40 million project professionals (across all industries) working globally today. That’s more than the total number of software developers or nurses in the workforce.

By 2035, organizations will need up to 65 million project professionals to keep up with change.

That’s a potential gap of almost 30 million people.

Let that sink in. Almost 30 million roles might go unfilled, not because they don’t exist, but because we simply don’t have enough trained professionals to fill them.

And this gap is growing faster than the global economy itself.

Why this matters more than ever

The PMI Global Project Management Talent Gap report doesn’t start with buzzwords or trends. It starts with the reality we’re all living through. Economic uncertainty. Geopolitical instability. Digital disruption. AI. New business models. Shifting demographics.

What do all of these changes have in common?

They require execution. Transformation. Delivery. And that means projects, which means people who can lead and manage them.

The PMI Global Project Management Talent Gap is very clear. Project professionals are not just helpful. They are crucial in helping organizations adapt and thrive. And when things get complex, the ability to lead through uncertainty becomes even more valuable.

In short, the world needs more people who can make things happen.

Demand is everywhere, but not equally distributed

Some regions are exploding with opportunity. Others are facing steady but slower growth. Let’s look at the data.

China, South Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa are leading in demand growth. In the high-growth scenario, China alone could need 23 million project professionals by 2035. That’s more than double its current workforce in this space. South Asia, driven by India and Bangladesh, could see demand grow by up to 91 percent. Sub-Saharan Africa could grow as much as 75 percent.

These regions are investing heavily in infrastructure, digital transformation, and industrial development. Many of them have young populations and growing economies. But they also face challenges with education, access to training, and career pathways. If those are addressed, these regions could become engines for global project talent.

In contrast, North America and Europe will also need more project talent, but the challenge there is different. Populations are aging. Retirement is accelerating. And the pipeline of new professionals is not growing fast enough.

In places like the US, Canada, and Germany, the focus needs to be on reskilling, retaining experienced professionals, and attracting new people to the profession.

Every project-intensive industry will see growth. But some stand out according to the PMI Global Project Management Talent Gap.

Construction is expected to grow demand by up to 66 percent, driven by urbanization, public investment, and climate-resilient projects.

Manufacturing follows closely, with demand increasing due to reshoring, automation, and supply chain reinvention.

IT services, financial services, and healthcare also show strong increases. These sectors are in constant transformation, requiring agile project delivery models and cross-functional leadership.

Even in government and energy, the need for skilled project professionals is rising steadily. No matter the sector, project leadership is becoming core to operational success.

If there’s a gap in project leadership, there’s a gap in our ability to execute change. This is not just about jobs. It’s about momentum.

The PMI Global Project Management Talent Gap makes it clear. Closing the talent gap is not just a numbers game. It’s about building a profession. One that people can enter, grow in, and stay in.

So, how do we close the gap?

The PMI Global Project Management Talent Gap outlines a few key strategies. None of them is flashy. All of them are realistic.

First, project professionals themselves need to become more visible. That means stepping up with a strategic mindset and showing that project management is not just about tasks and tools. It’s about driving value. It’s about being a partner in decision-making.

PMI refers to this mindset as M.O.R.E. Professionals who bring:

Mindset aligned with strategy
Outcomes that deliver real impact
Resilience to navigate uncertainty
Execution to get things done

Second, organizations need to invest in reskilling and upskilling. They need to build project management capabilities across functions and levels. This includes internal mobility, training programs, and clearer career pathways into project roles.

Third, education needs to begin earlier. PMI is already working with schools, universities, and local chapters to introduce project skills to students. But there’s more to do. Especially in emerging economies where access is still limited.

And fourth, there’s a need to make this profession attractive. That means promoting it as a rewarding and future-proof career. One that matters.

A note on methodology

PMI Global Project Management Talent Gap data model is based on 172 project-related job titles, tracked globally across 180 countries using LinkedIn’s Talent Insights platform.

To estimate future demand, they used capital investment data as a proxy for project activity. That means the projections are grounded in economic reality, not theoretical forecasts.

They also accounted for attrition and retirement. By 2035, more than 4 million current project professionals are expected to leave the workforce due to age. That makes the gap even more urgent.

It’s a solid methodology. One that shows just how serious this problem is becoming.

My takeaway

The PMI Global Project Management Talent Gap isn’t about hype or trends. It’s about capacity.

We are heading into a decade of massive change. Technological, political, economic, and environmental. And every single one of those changes will require skilled professionals who can lead, deliver, and adapt.

That’s what this report shows. Not just that, we need more people in project roles. But we need to rethink how we grow the entire profession.

We don’t need heroes. We need systems. Education systems. Training systems. Recognition systems. Career pathways. Mentorship networks.

The work is there. The opportunity is there. Now it’s a question of whether we’re ready to meet the challenge.

I hope we are. And if you’re reading this as someone in the field, or someone thinking of joining, know this: You are needed. Your work matters.

And you’re stepping into one of the most impactful roles in the modern workforce.

If you’d like to dive deeper, the full PMI Global Project Management Talent Gap report is available online. It’s dense, but worth reading. I’ll keep unpacking more data in future posts.

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