Let’s be honest – project management in 2025 is wild.

On one hand, we’ve got AI assistants, amazing collaboration tools, and more project management resources than ever before. On the other hand, projects are still failing, teams miscommunicate, and we’re still trying to do more with less time and fewer resources.

What are we doing wrong?

Numbers don’t lie, so I’ve gathered some important project management statistics to try to uncover where we stand.

Let’s dive in!

Top Project Management Statistics for 2025

The project management world is exploding right now, in the best way possible. The growth numbers are insane.

But all this success is creating new headaches around finding enough talent and keeping up with how rapidly everything is changing.

Project Management Industry Statistics

Let’s see the project management statistics for the industry!

The global project management software market will reach $12.02 billion by 2030

According to Mordor Intelligence, the Project Management Software Market size is estimated at USD 7.24 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 12.02 billion by 2030, demonstrating a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.67%.

The shift toward digital-first workplaces has made project management software less of a nice-to-have and more of a business survival tool.

87.7 million project management roles will be required by 2027

If you’ve ever wondered whether project management is recession-proof, this might be your answer: The Project Management Institute (PMI) reports that 87.7 million project management roles will be needed globally by 2027.

Currently, the world has 40 million project management professionals, which means we’re looking at a shortage of up to 30 million professionals by 2035.

China faces the largest talent gap, with 13.6 million professionals needed by 2035

According to PMI’s project management stats, China has the largest projected shortage of project management professionals, with an expected gap of up to 13.6 million by 2035.

This represents massive opportunities for experienced project managers willing to work in global markets or support international initiatives remotely.

Project manager employment will grow 7% from 2023 to 2033

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that project manager employment will increase by 7% from 2023 to 2033, which is faster than the average for all occupations.

While other professions worry about AI replacing human workers, project management is experiencing the opposite trend.

Project Management Software Statistics

Despite all the buzz about digital transformation, the reality of project management software adoption might surprise you.

Let’s take a look at the numbers.

Only 23% of organizations currently use project management software

Here’s a reality check: despite the growing market, Capterra research shows that only 23% of organizations use project management software in any capacity. This means that 77% of organizations are still managing projects with spreadsheets, emails and paper notes.

No wonder project failure rates remain stubbornly high when many teams are essentially trying to build skyscrapers with stone-age tools.

Project management software drives measurable team improvements

For those organizations that have made the leap, the results speak for themselves. Research shows that project management software significantly improves team transparency and collaboration.

Additionally, 44% of teams using project management software report improvements in final product quality, while 38% report improved customer satisfaction.

AI in project management will grow to $7.4 billion by 2029

The AI revolution has officially arrived in the project management industry. AI in project management is projected to grow from $3.08 billion in 2024 to $3.58 billion in 2025, with a CAGR of 16.3%. By 2029, the market is expected to reach $7.4 billion with a CAGR of 19.9%.

This isn’t just about fancy automation. It’s about finally having tools that can predict project risks before they derail timelines and budgets.

22% of project managers report that AI tools are currently deployed in their organizations

The AI adoption reality is more modest than the hype suggests. Capterra’s research indicates that 22% of PMs say AI tools are deployed in their organizations and in use today, while 39% report plans to deploy AI tools.

However, here’s the concerning part: 29% of project management specialists say they don’t feel ready for AI adoption.

82% of senior leaders plan to use AI for project management within 5 years

PMI research shows that 82% of senior leaders plan on using AI in some capacity for project management in the next 5 years.

This massive shift suggests that the PMs who embrace AI tools now will have a significant advantage over those who wait for the wave to crash over them.

Project Management Performance Statistics

Now let’s talk about the elephant in the room: project success rates.

73.8% is the average project performance rate globally

According to PMI’s latest project management statistics, 73.8% represents the average project performance rate globally. But when measured against traditional success criteria of on-time, on-budget, and meeting scope, only 48% of projects are considered complete successes.

This gap between project performance and project success tells us that we’ve gotten better at managing expectations, but there’s still plenty of room for improvement in execution.

70% of projects fail within their first year

Project management industry studies consistently show that project failure is a widespread problem, indicating that 70% of projects fail to deliver what was originally promised.

This isn’t just happening to tiny startups with no budget. Even big companies with millions of dollars and experienced teams are watching their projects crash. It really makes you question what “success” actually means in project management.

37% of projects fail due to a lack of clear objectives

PMI research identifies that 37% of projects fail due to the lack of defined project objectives and milestones. This is perhaps the most frustrating statistic on this entire list because it’s entirely preventable.

In other words, projects fail because nobody bothered to clearly define what success looks like from the beginning.

Poor communication causes 30% of project failures

Communication issues are the number one reason for bad project management. According to research, 19% of project failures result from miscommunication within teams, while other studies show that communication problems consistently rank among the top causes of project derailment.

We’ve got Slack, Teams, Zoom, and dozens of other tools, but we’re still failing at basic communication. It seems like technology can’t fix what is fundamentally a human problem.

IT projects exceed budgets by 75% on average

IT projects have a proven track record of spectacularly missing their financial targets while delivering far less value than promised.

Studies reveal that IT projects consistently perform poorly against their original plans, with budget overruns averaging 75%, schedule delays of 46%, and value delivery falling short by 39% compared to initial projections.

Organizations waste $122 million per $1 billion invested due to a poor project management system

For every $1 billion invested in the United States, approximately $122 million is wasted due to poor project performance, according to Electro IQ‘s project management statistics.

To put this in perspective, that’s enough waste to fund hundreds of smaller projects or significantly impact an organization’s bottom line.

Project Manager Salary Statistics

If there’s a silver lining to the project management profession, it’s that organizations are finally recognizing the value of skilled project managers and compensating them accordingly.

The median project manager salary reaches $136,000 in 2025

According to Glassdoor’s 2025 data, the median total pay for a project manager is $136,000, with the current salary range spanning from $104,000 to $183,000 per year.

These project management statistics represent a nationwide recognition that skilled project management is worth investing in.

PMP certification increases salaries by 20%

PMI’s project management statistics reveal that 33% of professionals with a PMP certification report higher median salaries than those without certification. The average salary of a PMP-certified project manager is approximately $108,000, which is nearly 20% more than that of non-certified project managers.

Remote project managers earn 16% more than the national average

According to recent research, 61% of project management professionals now work remotely at least some of the time. Studies show that project managers working remotely in the U.S. have an average salary of around $108,817, which is 16% more than the national average.

This shift toward remote work reflects the recognition that skilled project managers can lead teams regardless of location.

The technology industry offers the highest project manager salaries

According to Zippia’s analysis, the technology industry is the highest-paying sector for project managers. This makes sense given the complexity of tech projects and the high stakes involved in them.

66% of project managers received salary increases in the past year

PMI’s survey shows that 66% of project managers reported increased compensation in the past 12 months, with 61% receiving increases of 5% or higher.

Again, this statistic shows that organizations view skilled project managers as essential to complete projects.

Project Management Training Statistics

We don’t just need more project managers. We need better ones who can keep up with how the job keeps evolving.

53% of projects are managed by non-certified project managers

Wellingtone’s State of Project Management report reveals that 53% of projects are run by non-certified project managers, leaving only 47% managed by certified professionals. This gap has remained consistent over several years.

This can be also one of the reasons why we are dealing with low success rates.

71% of companies believe employees need more project management skills

According to the same research, 71% of companies believe employees need more project management skills, indicating a widespread competency gap.

This statistic shows that companies are recognizing that project management skills are becoming essential for anyone who works in a collaborative environment. Normally, you need to handle multiple projects at the same time, so adopting project management tools to properly utilize these skills can be crucial.

Only 45% of organizations provide accredited project management training

Wellingtone also shows that, despite the recognized skills gap, only 45% of organizations provide accredited project management training to their employees. It is one of the most significant project management challenges currently.

This disconnect between recognizing the need for skills and actually investing in developing those skills represents a massive missed opportunity.

Organizations prioritizing soft skills see 8% fewer budget failures

PMI research shows that organizations placing a high priority on soft skills are 8% less likely to lose budget to project failure, 12% less likely to experience scope creep, and 7% more likely to meet business goals.

This data shows that the human elements often matter more than the frameworks.

Project Management Office (PMO) Statistics

After years of being seen as bureaucratic, the PMOs are finally being recognized as strategic assets to their organizations.

Let’s take a look at what the numbers say!

72% of organizations expect PMO responsibilities to expand

According to Wellingtone, 72% of organizations expect the scope and responsibilities of their PMO to become larger in the coming years.

69% report increasing perceived value of their PMO

The Wellingtone’s data also shows that 69% of respondents reported that the perceived value of their project management office is increasing.

This represents a fundamental shift in how organizations view PMOs. Those who can demonstrate their impact on business outcomes are becoming indispensable.

Nearly 50% of PMOs expect team expansion

As per Wellingtone’s survey, 50% of PMOs believe their headcount will grow in the future, while only 7% expect a reduction.

However, this growth in responsibilities doesn’t always translate to proportional staff increases. This means PMOs need to become more efficient and leverage technology to scale their impact.

Only 45% of PMOs have clearly defined roles and responsibilities

Despite their growing importance, Wellingtone research shows that only 45% of PMOs have clearly defined roles and responsibilities.

This lack of clarity can severely impact PMO effectiveness.

Agile and Methodology Statistics

The data also reveal some interesting patterns about how organizations are actually managing projects in 2025.

42% of project managers don’t follow defined project management methodologies

Research indicates that 42% of project managers don’t follow a defined project management methodology, which makes their projects 15% less likely to meet goals and stay within budget, and 16% less likely to be completed on time.

24.6% of companies use Agile project management practices

According to Wellingtone’s data, 24.6% of companies now use Agile project management practices such as Scrum, showing gradual growth from 23% in 2020.

Meanwhile, 31.5% of companies use hybrid models combining predictive and Agile practices.

43.9% of organizations still rely on predictive approaches

Despite all the hype around Agile, 43.9% of organizations still rely on predictive approaches such as the Waterfall model, though this represents a decline from 58% in 2020.

This persistence of traditional methodologies suggests that many projects simply work better with predictive approaches.

Remote, hybrid, and in-person teams show similar performance rates

Here’s an interesting finding: fully remote, hybrid, and in-person project teams demonstrate almost identical project performance rates at 73.2%, 73.4%, and 74.6% respectively.

This data debunks the argument that remote work damages project performance. Good project management practices matter more than physical location.

Resource Management Statistics

Resource management remains one of the most persistent challenges in project management.

Let’s see if the statistics reveal why so many project management professionals feel like they’re constantly fighting uphill battles.

Only 8% of organizations conduct monthly project reviews

According to a survey cited by Harvard Business Review, only 8% of organizations regularly review their active projects each month. One global nonprofit had 900 employees but over 1,200 active projects running simultaneously.

This lack of systematic project evaluation often leads to wasted resources and “zombie projects” that drain teams without contributing real value.

Most organizations could cut 50-70% of their projects without a negative impact

The same research suggests that the majority of companies could cancel half (or even up to 70%) of their current projects without hurting performance.

One company that stopped or re-scoped 20% of its projects within six months released millions for digital transformation, while another reduced its portfolio by 35% and significantly improved execution speed.

This explains why 75% of project managers report being asked to do too much work with too few resources, according to PMI’s Project Management Salary Survey.

Early project validation eliminates 40% of unnecessary work

HBR emphasizes the value of testing concepts before turning them into full projects.

Organizations that validated their ideas early discovered that 40% weren’t worth pursuing, saving thousands of hours and keeping teams focused on high-impact initiatives.

This smart filtering could significantly reduce the resource strain that leads to 23% of project delays being caused by poor resource allocation.

Overallocated resources make 73% more mistakes

Studies show that overallocated resources are 73% more likely to make mistakes. This finding should be mandatory reading for every executive who thinks they can squeeze more productivity by simply assigning people to more projects.

The data clearly shows that overallocation doesn’t just burn people out, but actively damages quality and increases risk.

Future Trends and Predictions

Looking ahead, several trends are reshaping what it means to be a project manager in 2025 and beyond.

62% believe project work will increase in the future

Wellingtone’s research shows that 62% of respondents believe project work will increase in the future.

As organizations become more agile and responsive to market changes, the ability to manage initiatives effectively becomes a core business competency.

AI and big data skills demand will increase 87% through 2030

The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 notes an 87% increase in demand for AI and big data skills from 2025 through 2030, along with a 68% increase in demand for technological literacy.

For project managers, this means that staying relevant requires more than just understanding traditional PM methodologies. You need to be fluent in the technologies that are transforming how work gets done.

49% of organizations will invest in technology advancements in the next 3-5 years

Nearly half of organizations plan to invest in technology advancements in the next 3-5 years, with 44% planning investments in digitalization initiatives.

This wave of technological investment will create massive opportunities for project managers.

Summary: Project Management Statistics in 2025

Project management statistics show that we are experiencing a massive growth in 2025. The software market is exploding, demand for skilled PMs is through the roof, and AI is transforming how we work. But here’s the reality check: the project management failure statistics are still very high.

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The biggest disconnect? We have incredible technology, but we’re still struggling with basic fundamentals like communication, clear objectives, and realistic resource planning. Companies are running too many projects with too few people, and 77% still manage projects with spreadsheets and emails.

The winners will be organizations that focus on fewer, higher-impact projects and actually invest in training their people. For project managers, the opportunities are huge. Salaries are rising, remote work is normalized, and there’s a massive talent shortage. But you need to embrace AI, get certified, and master both technical and soft skills.

Frequently Asked Questions

What percentage of projects will actually succeed in 2025?

According to PMI research, 73.8% of projects meet their performance criteria, but only 48% achieve complete success when measured against time, budget, and scope. The gap reveals we’ve gotten better at managing expectations, but still need improvement in project execution.

How much should I expect to earn as a project manager in 2025?

The median project manager salary is $136,000, with a range from $104,000 to $183,000 per year. PMP-certified professionals earn about 20% more, and remote workers command a 16% premium over the national average.

Is it worth getting a PMP certification in 2025?

Absolutely. Beyond the 20% salary boost, a project management certification provides a significant competitive advantage and solid knowledge of the standardized project management practices.

With 53% of projects managed by non-certified PMs and higher failure rates in those projects, certification demonstrates professional credibility.

Will AI replace project managers in the future?

No, but AI will change what project managers do. While 82% of senior leaders plan to use AI in project management within five years, it’s positioned as an enhancement tool. AI handles data analysis and admin tasks, but can’t replace human elements like leadership and stakeholder management.

What is the 80 20 rule in project management?

The Pareto rule is among the proven project management practices to improve project success rates. It says that 80% of the results of a project come from 20% of the work.

It helps you to switch your focus to the activities that are key to a successful project. Using techniques such as the Pareto rule and the right tools helps you to create the ideal project management strategy for your organization.