Africa needs 150,000 more construction managers by 2035, PMI report warns

Sub-Saharan Africa stands at an inflection point. While governments across the region commit unprecedented capital to infrastructure development—from Lagos port expansions to Nairobi's metro systems and Southern African highway corridors—a critical bottleneck threatens to derail these ambitions. A new report from the Project Management Institute (PMI) reveals that the continent will face a deficit of approximately 150,000 qualified construction and project management professionals by 2035, a gap that carries profound implications for European investors and service providers. The infrastructure imperative driving this shortfall is undeniable. The African Development Bank estimates the continent requires $130-170 billion annually in infrastructure investment through 2025 to meet development targets. Across sectors—energy, transportation, water, and telecommunications—major projects are mobilizing. Yet the human capital foundation to execute these initiatives remains fractured. Most African countries lack sufficient domestic pipelines of certified project managers, structural engineers, and construction supervisors trained to international standards. This supply-demand mismatch creates multiple vulnerabilities. Project delays compound costs, eroding investor returns and straining government budgets already stretched by competing priorities. In Kenya, Tanzania, and Nigeria—three of Africa's largest construction markets—foreign contractors routinely import senior management talent at premium costs, while mid-level technical expertise remains scarce. Corruption risks also intensify when project oversight is