NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 16 – Sub-Saharan Africa’s infrastructure push is facing a major skills shortage, with a new report by the Project Management Institute warning of a 57 percent talent gap in construction professionals by 2035.
The gap comes as the continent ramps up projects under the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), which includes over 400 projects worth more than $360 billion.
Demand for construction project professionals is expected to rise from 260,000 in 2025 to over 410,000 by 2035, leaving a shortfall of nearly 150,000 workers.
PMI said the shortage could slow delivery of key projects in energy, transport, ICT and water systems.
“Without the right project management capabilities, we risk delays, cost overruns and lost value,” said George Asamani, PMI Sub-Saharan Africa Managing Director.
The report notes that about 10 percent of global project investment is lost annually due to poor performance, translating to billions in losses for Africa’s infrastructure plans.
Countries such as Ethiopia are leading demand growth, with annual increases projected at 7.8 percent.
The study also highlights weak coordination, limited skills in planning and resource management, and low adoption of digital tools as key challenges.
PMI recommends increased investment in training, better working conditions and adoption of technologies such as AI and Building Information Modelling to improve efficiency.
