PM Network - January 2017

The slow but steady recovery of the world’s largest economy has fostered upbeat prospects for project profes- sionalsthisyear— andbeyond.Manage-
ment occupations—including IT project managers
and construction project managers—are expected
to grow roughly 6 percent by 2024, according to
the U.S. Department of Labor. And the country’s
overall unemployment rate has continued to inch
downward since its global crisis peak of 10 percent
in 2009. The rate dropped below 5 percent last
year—the firsttimesince2008. “In an increasingly competitive market, orga-
nizations will have to lower their margins to win
contracts. That creates a high demand for project
professionals who have the skills to efficiently man-
age projects. Project talent that’s not willing to adapt
might have fewer opportunities,” says Brandon Lane,
PMP, general manager, distributed energy projects,
Duke Energy, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.

Having the right credentials also can help you get recognized—and command a better salary. The Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification is one of the top seven highest-paying certifications, according to Global Knowledge’s 2016 IT Skills and Salary Report. Five others on the list are IT or security-related.

Beyond security, IT project opportunities are both varied and robust, ranging from autonomous driving vehicles, data analytics and the Internet of Things to the convergence of IT and financial services or healthcare. The latter continues to add jobs at a record clip, outpacing other sectors, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Another project-intensive sector, construction, also faces a bright future. The BLS predicts project management employment will grow by 5 percent by the year 2024, and construction associations already have warned of a growing shortage of experienced project talent with the right skill set.