South Asia Construction Talent Gap to Nearly Double by 2035, PMI Industry Roundtable Warns
New Delhi, June 4, 2026: The Project Management Institute (PMI) recently convened a high-level construction and infrastructure roundtable featuring more than 25 senior executives from prominent public and private enterprises. The gathering included leaders spanning the infrastructure, construction, energy, renewables, transportation, technology, manufacturing, and advisory sectors, PMI said in a press release.
Held under the theme ‘Closing the delivery capability gap in Indian infrastructure: From national ambition to predictable on-ground execution’, the roundtable explored critical strategies for India’s infrastructure ecosystem to strengthen execution capability, build future-ready project talent, and improve overall delivery outcomes amid rising project complexity and investment scales.
The urgency of the discussion was underscored by findings from PMI’s Construction Project Management Talent Gap Report, 2026. The report indicates that the demand for construction project professionals across South Asia is set to accelerate significantly by 2035, fueled by sustained infrastructure and industrial investments. Under high-growth scenarios, the region’s construction talent gap could nearly double, widening from 291,000 professionals today to 558,000 by 2035. India alone is projected to require nearly 395,000 construction project professionals by that time.
Amit Goyal, Managing Director, PMI South Asia, emphasized the pivotal role of structured project management in meeting these demands, stating, “India’s infrastructure growth story will increasingly be defined by how effectively projects are executed on the ground. As infrastructure projects become larger, more interconnected, and time-sensitive, organisations will need skilled professionals who can manage complexity, align multiple stakeholders, and optimise resources to deliver consistent, precise outcomes. Building future-ready project talent and strengthening delivery capability will be critical to the ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision, ensuring that infrastructure investments translate into long-term economic and social impact.”
The assembly also addressed the severe operational and financial penalties associated with weak project execution across the industry. Roundtable participants referenced a global PMI survey indicating that 72% of projects exceed budgets, 73% face delays, and 70% experience scope creep. These performance inefficiencies result in a staggering loss of nearly USD 127 million for every USD 1 billion invested, with average overruns routinely damaging profitability, stakeholder confidence, and long-term market competitiveness.
Highlighting the necessity of collaborative industry action to bridge these shortfalls, Yash Singh, Partner, Business Consulting, KPMG India, remarked, “India’s infrastructure and construction sector is entering a high-growth phase, making substantial investment in skilled project talent critical for delivering projects efficiently and sustainably. We are delighted to partner with PMI in such knowledge initiatives and advancing the dialogue around strengthening project and execution excellence.”
This event forms part of PMI South Asia’s broader Construction Roundtable series, which serves as a collaborative platform for industry leaders to pinpoint capability gaps, exchange best practices, and explore targeted interventions. The initiative builds upon the foundation of the inaugural Construction Roundtable held during PMSAC24 in September 2024, continuing the drive to elevate infrastructure delivery outcomes across the region.
