15% off e-learning, plus packs & blended courses

Up to 20% off virtual courses

Use offer code: EARLY1024SA
Learn now, pay later – payment options available
  • ILX home
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • ILX releases Tackling Resource Shortage in the Project Management Industry, a whitepaper

ILX releases Tackling Resource Shortage in the Project Management Industry, a whitepaper

During December 2016 and January 2017, ILX Group ran a survey to gauge the current state of the project management industry.

We have now released a whitepaper that summarises the key findings of the 20-question survey, which was completed by 2,554 respondents — all active Project, Programme and Portfolio Management professionals.

The results show that a shortage of candidates, resource shortfall and competition for resources are the three biggest challenges currently facing project managers.

Resource shortfall was found to be the main reason for project failure, although it was closely followed by project overrun and project overspend, both of which could also be attributed to not having enough, or the right, resources available.

The data also revealed a significant gender gap in the industry with men in senior positions outnumbering women by 4 to 1. We found an even balance of men and women in the industry at a junior level, but this was followed by a sharp decline in the number of women remaining in the profession after 10 years.

Coupled with the fact that 94% of organisations struggle to fill vacancies due to a lack of candidates with suitable experience, it would seem that the project management industry has some serious work to do on improving the recruitment and retention of senior level female staff.

“There is no quick fix to this kind of issue,” ILX Group Managing Director, Russell Kenrick, says; “we believe that the best way to ensure that both men and women stay in the profession for as long as possible is through ongoing professional development, coupled with career progression planning.”

ILX Recruitment MD, Chris Jones, adds; “the simple fact is that demand for skilled project management professionals is outstripping supply. Companies need a holistic approach to their resource planning in order to effectively address this shortfall and this is something which ILX is ideally placed to help with.”

Capture