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Kenya’s demand for project talent among fastest-rising
Ethiopia leads the continent with growth in talent demand expected to grow 112 percent by 2035 to between 775,000 and 944,000, more than double the current base of project professionals of 365,000 to 372,000.
Kenya is facing one of the fastest growth in demand for project professionals in the sub-Saharan Africa in the coming years, findings of a new survey suggest, underscoring rising opportunities for skilled labour in the country’s ambitious infrastructure, energy and industrial plans.
A global report by the Project Management Institute (PMI) sees Kenya’s need for skills such as project, programme, portfolio and product managers climbing to between 223,000 and 247,000 in a decade, from the current 150,000 and 151,000 professionals respectively.
This translates to an additional 79,000 to 102,000 skilled project management professionals the country will require by 2035 to keep pace with the expanding development agenda.
PMI— a professional body in project, programme and portfolio management— ranks Kenya among the top sub-Saharan countries where demand for project management skills will grow fast at a projected 48 to 63 percent by 2035, trailing Ethiopia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Tanzania.
The Global Project Management Talent Gap 2025 report identifies countries in the region and South Asia as likely to experience the steepest rise in demand for project talent in the world, driven by efforts to industrialise, modernise energy networks and build urban infrastructure.
“Many of these countries are in the midst of massive infrastructure expansion, digital transformation and industrial development, and will need a significant influx of project talent to make these ambitions a reality,” the report states.
“As organisations navigate economic uncertainty, geopolitical tension and rapid technological change, the ability to pivot strategies and deliver successful projects has never been more essential.”
PMI estimates the sub-Saharan project management workforce at 2.6 million in 2025, but sees it rise to between 4.1 million and 4.6 million by 2035— a talent demand surge of up to 76.92 percent.
Ethiopia leads the continent with growth in talent demand expected to grow 112 percent by 2035 to between 775,000 and 944,000, more than double the current base of project professionals of 365,000 to 372,000.
Côte d’Ivoire follows with a 108-147 percent jump to 137,000-166,000 professionals, Ghana with 70-93 percent to 126,000-145,000 project management workers, while Tanzania is forecast to expand demand by 68-90 percent to 345,000-396,000.
Neighbouring Uganda is seen posting a growth of 63 to 83 percent in opportunities for project management workers, between 146,000 and 166,000. Nigeria’s demand is projected to rise 33-43 percent to 598,000-646,000 professionals, while South Africa's demand is seen rising 19 percent to 312,000 on the highest side.
The report has come amid reports that Kenya’s university education systems are skewed toward business and education courses. That widens the skills gap in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields that are crucial to the country’s industrial ambitions.
The Commission for University Education’s (CUE’s)
shows more than 60,000 students graduated in 2024 from education- and business-related programmes — more than half of the country’s total graduates.
Out of 123,928 graduates recorded last year, 34,156 were from education disciplines, while 28,005 pursued business, administration and management studies. The two fields — whose students end up in classrooms and boardrooms —accounted for more than half of all degree awards that year.
On the other hand, the STEM-related areas, such as computing, engineering and natural sciences — whose products end up in factories and laboratories— lagged far behind, with each area producing less than 10,000 graduates.
“Increasing the number of workers in the labour force doesn’t automatically equate to a project-ready talent pool. In several regions, particularly those with fast-growing populations, there are opportunities to strengthen foundational education and expand access to professional development,” PMI researchers wrote in the report.
“Many workers have the potential to thrive in project roles but may need additional support — such as targeted upskilling, credentialing pathways, and career guidance — to make that transition. With the right investments, these growing labour markets could become powerful engines for meeting global demand.”
