Are project managers in demand in 2024?

TRS Staffing Solutions (TRS) is a results-driven recruitment specialist with expertise in sourcing project management roles for our clients.

While rapid societal changes have characterised recent years, global project activity is regaining its strength and talent is in demand.

With that in mind, it’s valid to question what the future of project management will look like going forward. Are project managers still in demand?

This article will answer your questions and outline the demand for project managers in 2024. Informed by industry trends and TRS’ expert analysis, we’ll also detail the predictions for the industry over the coming years.

Whether you’re an experienced project manager or considering branching into this role from your existing career, this is a vitally important topic that relates to jobs in construction, mining, engineering, and many other related sectors in which we recruit for.

Are project managers in high demand?

Industry overview

Current job market for project managers

According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), a staggering 25 million project managers will be needed to meet the professional demand by 2030.

As such, companies are reportedly focusing on hiring project managers with strong problem-solving and communication skills to help see them through these unpredictable times.

Key sectors driving demand 

Project managers are required to carry commercial goals over the line in every sector imaginable. 

The sectors that are contributing most heavily to the global demand for project managers are the engineering, construction, infrastructure, and technology industries.

Trends influencing the need for project managers in 2024

The project management landscape is constantly undergoing shifts that affect how professionals work. Amongst them, the influx of AI is impacting how project managers do their job—particularly in terms of documentation and reporting. 

That said, there is little fear of AI automation eradicating the demand for project managers; it is, by its nature, a role that requires a human touch.

The rise of remote working arrangements has presented transitory challenges for businesses around the world, leading to an increased need for project managers who are adept at strategically managing a hybrid workforce.

Demand for project managers:

Market growth and opportunities

The project management software market size in 2024 is reported to be in excess of $6.5 billion USD. 

This is projected to rise to nearly $11 billion over the next 5 years. The fastest-growing market is the Asia-Pacific region, though the largest market continues to be North America.

While opportunities to secure project management jobs remain plentiful in the US and Canada, professionals with a growth mindset may well find themselves strongly positioned by pursuing opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region.

Skill sets in demand

According to Forbes, the highest-paying project management jobs go to candidates with the following skills:

• Agile software development
• Business analysis
• Engineering design
• Risk management/control
• Strategic thinking

Meanwhile, in-demand soft skills in industries such as construction tend to centre around communication, problem-solving, and having a growth mindset.

Key projects in 2024 and beyond

On a global scale, successful project managers play a role in the changing shape of skylines, the connectedness of nations, and the lived experience of billions of people.

Look at Canada, for example—one of the key countries that TRS Staffing recruits for:

Some of Canada’s largest projects centre around renewable technologies, including an enormous $12.7 billion dollar project to construct the Muskrat Falls hydroelectric generator facility in Labrador. This project, like countless others, requires the input of a vast team of experienced project managers.

Take Saudi Arabia, as another example—another one of the locations that TRS Staffing recruits for:

The Saudi Vision 2030 plan aims for economic diversification, reduced reliance on hydrocarbons, and enormous changes to urban landscapes. These ambitious plans couldn’t possibly come to fruition without the essential contribution of skilled, resourceful project managers.

Discover project manager jobs with TRS Staffing 

Now that you have an updated understanding of the demand for project managers in 2024, take a look at the kinds of project manager roles TRS recruits for around the world.

From Bahrain to Belgium, South Africa to Sweden, there are opportunities abound for skilled project managers ready to take the next step in their careers.