The construction, energy, and information technology sectors will present the greatest job opportunities in 2023, according to the latest talent gap report by the Project Management Institute (PMI).
This comes at a time when the number of unemployed Kenyans has doubled in the past ten years due economic expansion driven by infrastructure and a speedier adoption of technology that has rendered many redundant.
PMI says that the estimated $100 billion (Sh13.5 trillion) worth of energy projects currently under consideration will likely create demand for more experts in the sectors.
“Despite these economic conundrums, PMI’s Job Trends Report 2023 notes that the construction, energy, and information technology sectors are well placed to continue playing a key role in the sub-Sharan economy as job creators,” says PMI Managing Director for Sub-Saharan Africa George Asamani.
The report further notes that these sectors, alongside agriculture and manufacturing, have been a cornerstone of the regional economy.
Among the jobs that have the greatest potential is project management which the survey estimates will require 2.3 million people each year to fill positions expected to open by 2030.
“Skills shortages as the economy recovers will create significant opportunities for project talent as companies and countries fast-track projects,” said Asamani.
The outlook is more sobering for advanced economies that spur much of the world’s project activity. Yet even as many companies buckle up to respond to this downturn, there’s still a serious talent shortage.
It says that to remain competitive, companies will need to hire problem solvers and relationship builders who can help drive change and deliver strategic value.
During this decade, sub-Saharan Africa will witness a 40 percent growth in PMO employment opportunities.
Senior Project Manager at AI platform Sama, Fatuma Adan, adds that knowing where these opportunities will likely bubble up will empower project professionals to find career opportunities.
“The job market across sub-Saharan Africa has been experiencing a major boom, with project management skills in heavy demand,” said Adan.
Demand for industry-ready project professionals essential to this task remains robust, bucking sluggishness in job additions in the broader economy.
Project leaders, especially those with power skills that can help organisations navigate turbulent times, will see consistent demand.
Across nearly all sectors, communication is the most critical power skill to possess, according to professionals surveyed in the report.
