Sub-Saharan Africa could face a 57 percent shortage of construction project professionals by 2035, a new report shows.

According to the report by the Project Management Institute (PMI), the shortage could potentially slow the delivery of major infrastructure projects across the region.

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The report launched on Monday, March 16, comes as countries push forward with large-scale infrastructure development under the African Union's Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), an initiative aimed at closing infrastructure gaps by 2040.

PIDA includes more than 400 priority projects spanning energy, transport, ICT, and transboundary water systems. With over $360 billion committed, the programme is seen as a key driver of regional integration, industrialisation, and long-term economic growth across the continent.

However, PMI warns that the workforce needed to manage these complex projects is not expanding fast enough.

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According to the report, demand for construction project professionals in Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to rise from about 260,000 in 2025 to more than 410,000 by 2035, leaving a shortfall of nearly 150,000 professionals across the region.

The challenge reflects a broader global trend. PMI estimates that around 2.5 million additional construction project professionals will be needed worldwide by 2035 to meet growing infrastructure demand.

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PMI data shows that around 10 percent of global project investment is lost annually due to poor project performance, highlighting the financial impact of inefficiencies in the sector.

Sub-Saharan Africa is currently experiencing the highest growth in demand for construction project professionals globally, driven by rapid urbanisation, population growth, and expanding regional trade, according to the report.