This question has been perplexing me for some time as there does not appear to be a quantified statement available in the public domain. That is, until now!
From our research we believe that the numbers currently claimed in the public domain are grossly exaggerated. Recent claims have included the following:
“According to statistics produced by the Middlesex University National Centre for Project Management, 1.5 – 2 million people earn their living as Project Managers in the UK alone” (http://7-lotus.net/employmentcareer/project-management-the-career-for-you)
“I estimate that there are now around 300,000 project managers in the UK” – Mike Nichols, Chair of the Association for Project Management (APM)” (http://www.pmworldtoday.net/industry_news/2007/aug.htm)
I would like to put forward what we believe is a more realistic figure for the UK. When we extrapolated data from the Arras People Project Management Benchmark Survey, we arrived at a figure at a community size of between 69,000 and 77,000, which is significantly lower than previously published numbers.
Our logic behind this was this: Out of all respondents to the Arras People survey, 21.5% indicated that they have membership of the APM. The APM, in turn, state on their web site that they have 16,500 members. In addition, 4.8%, of all respondents to the Arras People survey said they are members of the UK PMI®, who in turn say they have 3,300 members.
Why the confusion? We suggest that many people confuse people who “work in or on projects” with the professionals who have the “responsibility for delivering projects”.
The Arras People Project Management Benchmark Report 2009 can be downloaded from the Arras People Website.
PMI® is a registered mark of Project Management Institute, Inc.
