PMI study reveals project management gender divide across all major industries

Collaboration between Project Management Institute and Women of Project Management to boost inclusion in the project profession

21 March 2023

A new Project Management Institute (PMI) report – The State of Women in Project Management 2023 - reveals a stark gender divide in the project management industry, with male project managers outnumbering female project managers at a rate of 3:1. However, 23% of men versus 20% of women report some level of management role, highlighting a much narrower gap when it comes to project management leadership opportunities. To elevate the project management career, PMI is collaborating with Women of Project Management (WOPM), the dedicated global community for women in the project profession, to further amplify the voices of women in project management across its global community and enable more female project managers to enter or progress in the profession. 

The mission of Women of Project Management is to increase the representation of women and women of color in the project profession by supporting their members at every stage of their career journey. Their dedicated team provides hands-on, practical support to boost the individual’s career, including: exploring the vast world of project management, how to increase visibility, expanding your network, receiving mentorship, or getting industry certified. 

The strategic DE&I collaboration between PMI and WOPM will provide female project professionals with access to community, education and training opportunities, events and networking opportunities.  

“PMI has over 300 chapters across the world committed to being a diverse, inclusive and equitable community,” said Brantlee Underhill, Chief Community Officer at PMI. “Our latest research shows that project management offers women genuine career progression opportunities, so we need to work together to encourage more women into the profession. By teaming up with Women of Project Management, together we will raise awareness of the importance of gender inclusion – which will only enhance our profession - and empower our community to create change, regardless of industry.” 

In fact, PMI’s The State of Women in Project Management snapshot also reveals that the gender disparity for project professionals exists across all major industries: 

Industry

Male

Female

Information Technology

78%

20%

Financial Services

69%

29%

Construction

86%

13%

Consulting

75%

24%

Manufacturing

81%

17%

Energy

83%

17%

Telecom

77%

22%

Government

72%

26%

Healthcare

59%

41%

Automotive

81%

18%

Training / Education

62%

37%

Aerospace

82%

17%

Transportation / Logistics / Distribution

83%

16%

"Many women simply don't have the resources or community they need to reach the opportunities they're deserving of. Their needs and voices aren't being heard or sometimes they have no idea where they should even start,” said Asya Watkins, CEO and Founder of Women of Project Management. “At WOPM we have built an entire support community dedicated to educating, enhancing, and empowering women and women of color. Inclusion is a social challenge that needs to be prioritized across all industries; it's great to know that PMI is investing support and continuing to drive awareness to this mission."

View the full report The State of Women in Project Management 2023.  

About Women of Project Management

Women of Project Management® is a professional organization committed to promoting equal representation for women and women of color in the field of project management, through a supportive membership community and tailored resources including, mentoring, certifications, health & wellness, workshops, networking, and career opportunities that engage members during every stage of their career journey. 

WOPM educates, enhances, and empowers those with an interest in the project management industry, by providing a platform and community designed to develop dynamic change makers and ensure women of color and other diverse backgrounds are celebrated for their contributions and distinctiveness. 

Fostering a culture of inclusion and amplifying the voices of women in the industry worldwide continues to be the driving force behind Founder and CEO, Asya Watkins’ vision for Women of Project Management®. In 2015, Asya brought her vision to life through the lens of highly qualified women who were deserving of a seat at the table. Powered by the core values of integrity, intention, and impact, Women of Project Management® has positively routed the lives of 1,000s of members and the DE&I goals of many Fortune 500 and corporate organizations throughout the years. 
For more information on Women of Project Management, please visit our website and social media at www.womenofpm.com Instagram.com/womenofpm LinkedIn.com/company/womenofpm .

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About PMI

PMI is the leading authority in project management, dedicated to guiding the way to project success. Since 1969, PMI has shone a light on the power of project management and the people behind the projects. With a global community, gold-standard professional certifications, and career-long learning opportunities, PMI empowers current and aspiring project professionals, as well as organizations, with knowledge and resources to lead effectively and create an impact in the communities they serve. Join PMI in elevating our world – one project at a time. Connect with us at www.pmi.org, linkedin.com/company/projectmanagementinstitute, on Instagram @pmi_org, and on TikTok @PMInstitute.