PMI Pulse Surveys: Project Starts Reflect Improving Economic Conditions
October 30, 2009 - A recent PMI Pulse Survey indicates that while the number or companies canceling or delaying projects has remained steady each month in 2009 there are some reporting that previously canceled projects are back on the schedule. The survey, sent to a random sample totaling 1000 PMI members and credential holders, was conducted October 7-14 and 19-26, 2009. Over the past 10 months an average of 54% of those surveyed indicate that their companies have canceled or delayed projects. Of the half who said their firms had canceled or delayed projects in the past month, one in four characterized those projects as “very significant” relative to their entire project portfolio. However, one in four participants report that projects previously canceled or delayed were started in the past month.
Respondents did reveal significant job cuts in their organizations, with half indicating lay-offs had taken place in the past month and one in five indicating job cuts for project managers in particular. The percent of full time employed participants has decreased significantly since September; however, these workers appear to have shifted to part-time positions rather then full unemployment. Still, 8% of the respondents do report their status as “unemployed”.
|
In the past month, has your company canceled or delayed scheduled projects due to the current economic conditions? |
Oct
2009 |
Sep
2009 |
Aug
2009 |
Jul 2009 |
Jun 2009 |
May 2009 |
Apr 2009 |
Mar 2009 |
Feb 2009 |
Jan
2009 |
|
Yes |
48% |
55% |
55% |
53% |
53% |
56% |
54% |
57% |
50% |
56% |
|
No |
37% |
33% |
37% |
31% |
33% |
31% |
30% |
30% |
31% |
32% |
|
Don’t know/Not sure |
16% |
12% |
8% |
16% |
14% |
12% |
16% |
13% |
19% |
12% |
|
Now please think only about canceled or delayed projects in which the funds have not been redirected. How would you characterize these cancellations and/or delays relative to the entire portfolio of projects in your company? Would you say the number and scope of projects canceled/delayed is... |
Oct 2009 |
Sept 2009 |
Aug 2009 |
July 2009 |
June 2009 |
May 2009 |
Apr 2009 |
Mar 2009 |
Feb 2009 |
Jan 2009 |
|
Very significant relative to the entire portfolio of projects in your company |
24% |
11% |
18% |
15% |
17% |
16% |
22% |
13% |
22% |
20% |
|
Somewhat significant relative to the entire portfolio of projects in your company |
45% |
43% |
49% |
45% |
54% |
55% |
45% |
46% |
44% |
41% |
|
Not very significant relative to the entire portfolio of projects in your company |
28% |
25% |
17% |
18% |
20% |
16% |
22% |
20% |
16% |
21% |
|
Don’t know/Not sure |
3% |
21% |
15% |
22% |
9% |
14% |
11% |
22% |
18% |
18% |
|
In the past month, has your company started projects that were previously canceled or delayed due to the recent economic conditions? |
Oct 2009 |
|
Yes |
25% |
|
No |
53% |
|
Don’t know/Not sure |
21% |
|
In the past month, has your company laid-off full or part-time employees due to the current economic conditions? |
Oct 2009 |
Sept 2009 |
Aug 2009 |
July 2009 |
June 2009 |
May 2009 |
Apr 2009 |
Mar 2009 |
Feb 2009 |
Jan 2009 |
|
Yes |
50% |
49% |
52% |
53% |
56% |
54% |
51% |
53% |
47% |
49% |
|
No |
40% |
42% |
39% |
36% |
39% |
39% |
41% |
42% |
41% |
43% |
|
Don’t know/Not sure |
9% |
9% |
9% |
11% |
5% |
8% |
8% |
6% |
12% |
9% |
|
In the past month, has your company laid-off full or part-time Project Managers due to the current economic conditions? |
Oct 2009 |
Sept 2009 |
Aug 2009 |
July 2009 |
June 2009 |
May 2009 |
Apr 2009 |
Mar 2009 |
|
Yes |
22% |
31% |
22% |
33% |
26% |
25% |
29% |
26% |
|
No |
60% |
53% |
61% |
45% |
59% |
58% |
54% |
57% |
|
Don’t know/Not sure |
17% |
16% |
17% |
22% |
14% |
16% |
17% |
17% |
|
Which of the following best describes your employment status? |
Oct 2009 |
Sept 2009 |
Aug 2009 |
July 2009 |
June 2009 |
May 2009 |
Apr 2009 |
Mar 2009 |
Feb 2009 |
Jan 2009 |
|
Employed full-time |
82% |
91% |
88% |
85% |
92% |
89% |
92% |
87% |
89% |
88% |
|
Employed part-time |
4% |
1% |
1% |
1% |
2% |
4% |
2% |
5% |
1% |
4% |
|
Unemployed |
8% |
6% |
8% |
13% |
5% |
6% |
4% |
6% |
7% |
5% |
|
Other |
6% |
2% |
3% |
1% |
1% |
1% |
1% |
2% |
3% |
3% |
Another PMI Pulse Survey conducted with PMI Registered Education Providers (R.E.P.s) indicates that the downturn is also impacting project management training providers. Four in five said they experienced a downturn in business as a result of the recession. It is promising to note that the slight majority (57%) expects business to return to pre-recession levels by mid-2010 and in fact, half have already observed an increase in business.
|
Did your company experience a downturn in business as a result of the recent global recession? |
Oct 2009 |
|
Yes, a significant downturn |
38% |
|
Yes, a moderate downturn |
43% |
|
No |
19% |
|
Has your company observed a recent increase in business as the global recession has appeared to come to an end? |
Oct 2009 |
|
Yes, a significant increase |
8% |
|
Yes, a moderate increase |
43% |
|
No |
49% |
|
When do you expect your business to return to its pre-recession level? |
Oct 2009 |
|
It has already |
1% |
|
By the end of 2009 |
8% |
|
By mid-2010 |
48% |
|
By the end of 2010 |
26% |
|
Sometime after 2010 |
17% |
Note: Percentages in red indicate a significant difference from the prior month at a 95% confidence level.
