Why choose Breeze
Marketing
Creative
Sales
Remote work
Managers
Product teams
Project management
Task management
Kanban tool
Time tracking
Project reporting
Project calendars
Project timeline
Team workload
Project automation
Project customization
Chat
Web forms
Project roadmap
AI
What's new
Articles & guides
Help center
Breeze overview
Video tour
Sample project boards
Mobile apps
Integrations
Developers
Free toolsProject management statistics you need to know (2026)
Project management continues to evolve rapidly, shaped by AI adoption, hybrid methodologies, and shifting workforce dynamics. Understanding the latest statistics helps you make informed decisions about tools, processes, and career development. This comprehensive guide presents the most current data on project management trends, success rates, and industry benchmarks for 2026.
1. State of project management 2026
What are the biggest project management trends in 2026?
AI becomes default tooling: AI copilots are moving from "pilot" to daily use for planning, status reporting, and decision support.
Hybrid becomes the norm: Organizations increasingly blend predictive + Agile practices instead of choosing one methodology.
Less mandated process, more fit-for-purpose: Enterprise Agile is fragmenting as teams adopt different patterns and frameworks.
Visibility is a competitive advantage: Real-time KPIs and automated reporting matter more as portfolios get bigger and work gets faster.
Power skills rise in importance: Soft skills like emotional intelligence, adaptability, and communication become critical differentiators as AI handles routine tasks.
What this means: Organizations that invest in both AI tooling and human skills development will outperform those focusing on just one.
Sources: Microsoft & LinkedIn – 2024 Work Trend Index Annual Report (PDF)
PMI – Talent Gap 2025
Digital.ai – 17th State of Agile Report (PDF)
Wellingtone – The State of Project Management Report (PDF)
How big is the project management software market?
The project management software market is projected to grow from $10.56 billion in 2026 to $39.16 billion by 2035, representing a 12.8% CAGR.
What this means: Continued investment in PM software reflects growing organizational dependence on project-based work and digital collaboration tools.
Sources: Grand View Research – Project management software market
Business Research Insights – PM Software Market Analysis
What is the average project performance rate?
The average project performance rate across organizations is 73.8% (defined as the mean percentage of completed projects that met business goals).
What this means: Roughly 1 in 4 projects fail to meet business goals—highlighting the ongoing need for better planning, governance, and stakeholder alignment.
How often are projects completed on time, on budget, and with full benefits?
34% of organizations mostly or always complete projects on time.
34% of organizations mostly or always complete projects on budget.
36% of organizations mostly or always deliver the full benefits of their projects.
45% say their organization has a track record of project success.
What this means: Less than half of organizations consistently deliver projects successfully—those with mature PM practices, real-time visibility, and engaged sponsors significantly outperform.
Source: Wellingtone – The State of Project Management Report
How much time is spent on formal projects?
Project work is becoming more "default work." Respondents report spending an average of 68% of their time on formal projects and 23% on informal projects.
What this means: Project management skills are no longer optional—most knowledge work is now structured as project-based delivery.
Source: Wellingtone – The State of Project Management Report
2. AI, automation & technology
How common is generative AI at work?
75% of global knowledge workers report using generative AI at work.
What this means: AI adoption has crossed the tipping point—project managers who don't leverage AI tools risk falling behind peers who do.
Source: Microsoft & LinkedIn – 2024 Work Trend Index Annual Report (PDF)
How many organizations have integrated AI into project management?
88% of organizations now use AI in at least one business function, with 32% having specifically integrated AI tools into their project management workflows.
81% of project professionals anticipate AI significantly impacting their work within the next three years.
What this means: AI in PM is moving from experimentation to integration—expect AI-powered scheduling, risk prediction, and status reporting to become standard features.
Sources: PM-Partners – Five Emerging Trends in 2026
Zipdo – AI in Project Management Statistics
How fast is the AI project management market growing?
The AI-enabled project management market is expected to grow at a 40% CAGR from 2023 to 2028.
What this means: Vendors are racing to embed AI capabilities—evaluate PM tools based on their AI roadmap, not just current features.
How new is generative AI usage inside organizations?
46% of respondents who use generative AI at work have used it for less than six months.
What this means: Most organizations are still early in their AI journey—there's opportunity to build competitive advantage through thoughtful AI implementation.
Source: Microsoft & LinkedIn – 2024 Work Trend Index Annual Report (PDF)
How much time is spent on "work about work"?
Knowledge workers spend 60% of their time on "work about work" (e.g., chasing status updates, unnecessary meetings, and switching between tools).
What this means: This is the primary target for AI automation—tools that reduce status chasing and context-switching deliver immediate ROI.
Source: Asana – Work about work
Do project teams have access to real-time project KPIs?
47% of respondents say they do not have access to real-time project KPIs, and 50% spend one day or more each month manually collating project status information.
What this means: Half of all PM time spent on reporting is manual—automation and integrated dashboards represent significant efficiency gains.
Source: Wellingtone – The State of Project Management Report
3. Methodologies & approaches
How fast is hybrid project management growing?
The share of organizations using hybrid approaches increased from 20% in 2020 to 31% in 2023—and continues to grow.
What this means: "Pure" methodologies are giving way to pragmatic combinations—teams choose practices based on project context, not ideology.
How do organizations mix predictive and Agile approaches in hybrid delivery?
Hybrid delivery takes different forms. When project managers report using a hybrid approach, the most common patterns include:
38%: chiefly predictive with small Agile components
37%: Agile and predictive components combined throughout the life cycle
15%: chiefly Agile with small predictive components
8%: Agile development followed by predictive rollout
What this means: There's no single "right" hybrid approach—successful teams tailor their methodology mix to project requirements and organizational culture.
Where do teams most often incorporate Agile practices in hybrid delivery?
When using a hybrid approach, Agile practices most often show up in these project functions:
61%: work/team management
59%: communication/stakeholder management
59%: planning
58%: monitoring
What this means: Agile practices are most valued for collaboration and adaptability—even traditionally waterfall organizations adopt Agile for team coordination.
How common is Agile (and hybrid) in software delivery?
71% of survey takers report using Agile in their SDLC, while 42% say their organizations use a hybrid model.
What this means: Agile remains dominant in software, but pure Agile is declining as organizations blend approaches for different project phases.
What is the most popular team-level Agile methodology?
63% of team-level Agile users follow Scrum.
What this means: Scrum remains the de facto standard for team-level Agile—understanding Scrum fundamentals is essential for most PM roles.
Which enterprise Agile frameworks are most common?
Enterprise Agile is increasingly fragmented, but SAFe remains the single most common choice:
26%: SAFe
19%: Scrum@Scale / Scrum of Scrums
22%: no mandated enterprise framework
12%: created their own enterprise Agile framework
What this means: One-size-fits-all enterprise frameworks are losing ground—more organizations are customizing or abandoning mandated approaches.
Are organizations moving away from mandated enterprise Agile frameworks?
Yes: 34% of survey takers say they either created their own enterprise Agile framework or don't follow a mandated enterprise framework at all.
What this means: The "Agile industrial complex" is fragmenting—teams want flexibility to choose practices that work, not compliance with rigid frameworks.
4. Workforce, skills & careers
Is project management in high demand?
Yes, project management is in extremely high demand. There is a projected global shortage of nearly 30 million project professionals by 2035. The PM workforce is expected to grow from 39.6 million in 2025 to 58.5 million by 2035—a 48% increase.
What this means: PM skills are becoming a career accelerator across industries—demand far outpaces supply, creating opportunities for certified and skilled professionals.
Source: PMI – Talent Gap 2025
How common is remote work for project professionals?
Approximately 61% of project management professionals work remotely at least some of the time. Remote work is projected to increase 25% globally, reaching an estimated 92 million workers by 2030.
What this means: Remote/hybrid PM is the new normal—invest in virtual collaboration skills, asynchronous communication, and distributed team management.
Sources: PMI – Pulse of the Profession 2024
Coursera – Project Management Trends
How many people work in project management?
There are currently 90 million project management-oriented employees in project-led industries globally.
What this means: Project management is one of the world's largest professional disciplines—the field continues to expand as more work becomes project-based.
Source: Project Management Institute
How many project management professionals are there in the UK?
There are approximately 2.32 million full-time equivalents (FTEs) employed in the project management profession in the UK.
Source: APM
How many projects do project managers run?
59% of project managers handle between 2 to 5 projects simultaneously.
11% of project managers manage 6 to 10 projects.
15% of project managers oversee more than 10 projects.
The remaining 15% are responsible for managing just a single project.
What this means: Multi-project management is the norm—tools and practices that support portfolio visibility and resource balancing are essential.
How many organizations provide accredited project management training?
Only 45% of respondents say their organization provides accredited project management training.
What this means: Most organizations underinvest in PM training—self-directed learning and external certification often fill the gap.
Source: Wellingtone – The State of Project Management Report
How many project managers are PMP-certified?
There are more than 1.4 million PMP certification holders worldwide.
What this means: PMP remains the most recognized PM credential globally—but represents less than 2% of PM professionals, creating differentiation value.
Source: Project Management Institute
How much does PMP certification cost?
The PMP exam fee is $405 for PMI (Project Management Institute) members and $665 for non-members.
What this means: Factor in study materials and prep courses—total investment typically runs $1,500–$3,000, but the salary premium usually provides quick ROI.
Source: Project Management Institute
How much more do PMP holders earn?
PMP-certified professionals earn significantly more than their non-certified peers. According to the PMI Earning Power: Project Management Survey, PMP holders earn an average of 33% more across 21 countries. Additionally, 61% of PMP-certified individuals reported a salary increase of at least 5% over the past year.
What this means: PMP certification remains one of the highest-ROI professional credentials—the salary premium typically pays back certification costs within months.
Source: Project Management Institute
5. PMOs & governance
How many companies have a PMO?
86% of organizations report having one or more PMOs, increasing steadily from 71% reported in 2016.
About a quarter of PMOs are less than two years old.
What this means: PMOs are becoming standard infrastructure—new PMOs often focus on portfolio visibility and delivery support rather than process compliance.
Source: Wellingtone – The State of Project Management Report
Does every project have a project sponsor?
Fewer than 2 in 3 projects have engaged project sponsors.
What this means: Sponsor engagement remains a critical success factor—projects without active sponsors face significantly higher failure rates.
Source: APM
How many projects are mostly or always run by professional project managers?
47% of respondents say projects are mostly or always run by professional project managers (meaning more than half are not).
What this means: "Accidental project managers" run most projects—organizations benefit from upskilling non-PM staff in basic project management practices.
Source: Wellingtone – The State of Project Management Report
6. Challenges & success factors
What are the biggest causes of project failure?
Changes in Organizational Priorities: Frequent shifts in priorities can derail a project, leading to confusion and misalignment among team members.
Changes in Project Goals: Altering the project's goals after work has begun can result in scope creep, increased costs, and missed deadlines.
Inaccurate Collection of Requirements: Failing to gather accurate and complete requirements at the start can lead to unmet expectations, costly changes, and ultimately, project failure.
What this means: Most project failures trace back to unclear or changing scope—invest heavily in requirements gathering, stakeholder alignment, and change control.
Source: Project Management Institute
What percentage of projects are completed successfully?
Only 35% of projects are completed successfully on time and within budget globally.
What this means: Project success is the exception, not the norm—organizations with mature PM practices, engaged sponsors, and real-time visibility significantly outperform this benchmark.
What skills matter most in an AI-augmented workplace?
As AI automates routine tasks, "power skills" (soft skills) become critical differentiators. The most valued skills include:
Communication: Clear stakeholder communication and expectation management
Emotional Intelligence: Managing diverse, distributed teams effectively
Adaptability: Navigating change and ambiguity in fast-moving environments
Strategic Thinking: Connecting project work to business outcomes
What this means: Technical PM skills become commoditized as AI handles scheduling and reporting—invest in uniquely human capabilities to stay competitive.
Key takeaways for 2026
The data paints a clear picture of project management in 2026:
- AI is accelerating rapidly: With 75% of knowledge workers using AI and the AI-PM market growing 40% annually, mastering AI tools is no longer optional.
- Hybrid is the new standard: Pure methodologies are giving way to pragmatic combinations—flexibility and adaptability trump framework dogma.
- The talent gap creates opportunity: With 30 million PM professionals needed by 2035, certified and skilled project managers command premium salaries and have strong job security.
- Basics still matter most: Despite all the technology, project success still depends on clear requirements, engaged sponsors, and stakeholder alignment.
- Power skills differentiate: As AI handles routine tasks, communication, emotional intelligence, and strategic thinking become the skills that set top performers apart.
Use these statistics as a reality check for your own delivery practices. The organizations that combine AI tooling with human-centered leadership, flexible methodologies, and real-time visibility will consistently outperform those that lag in any of these dimensions.
