Demand surges in rapidly developing regions amid global infrastructure and digital growth.

By 3035, global demand will require 30 million additional project professionals, especially in rapidly developing regions such as South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and China, according to a new report from Project Management Institute (PMI).

The report estimates that there are currently around 40 million project management professionals worldwide, a significant chunk of the global workforce today. However, an increase in infrastructure and digital transformation projects is contributing to increased demand for project talent.

In the UK, a projected shortfall of 226,000 project professionals is anticipated across sectors including construction, manufacturing, IT and healthcare. This could lead to a 66% increase in demand, according to the report. Pierre Le Manh, president and CEO at PMI, described the widening talent gap as a potential risk to economic growth and innovation.

The report identifies re-skilling, upskilling and the development of new career pathways as key strategies to address the shortage.