Discover how hiring project leaders with sector-specific expertise helps companies deliver faster, reduce risk, and maintain momentum, even in today’s strained labor market.
The widening gap between employers’ need for skilled project management workers and the availability of professionals is no secret. The global economy has become increasingly project-oriented, and with the United States expecting to require an average of 213,974 new project-oriented roles annually through 2027, engineering firms are scrambling to find support for their teams.
The Challenge?
- The widening gap between employers’ need for skilled project professionals and the available talent pool
- A dramatic increase in the number of jobs requiring project management expertise
- High attrition rates as seasoned professionals retire
- Growing pressure across sectors like Pulp & Paper, Chemicals, Mining, and Metals to scale projects while maintaining quality and safety standards
Firms in all industries, including in sectors like Pulp & Paper, Chemicals, Mining, and Metals, are responding by trying
- Attract and recruit new project-oriented talent
- Invest heavily in the development and training of their current workforce
- Retain experienced project management professionals
- Leverage flexible staffing models
But in many cases, internal hiring alone isn’t enough, yet the right external partner can bridge these gaps with speed, precision, and deep industry alignment.
Why Industry-Aligned Project Firms Provide an Edge
Rather than relying solely on internal recruitment, organizations are increasingly turning to specialized project management firms that already understand their industry context. Here’s how working with the right partner, especially one that allocates professionals by industry,can help navigate today’s labor shortage.
1. Strategic Alignment with the Market
Project professionals with sector expertise don’t just manage timelines,they connect strategy to business value. They:
- Understand the real economic impact of technology investments
- Translate high-level business goals into feasible, on-the-ground initiatives
- Align execution with industry-specific trends and stakeholder expectations
According to PMI, poor project performance leads to $99 million wasted for every $1 billion invested, largely due to a failure to link strategy and delivery (PMI, Pulse of the Profession, 2018).
Firms like Timenow mitigate this by assigning professionals who actively study market conditions and product realities in Mining & Metals, Pulp & Paper, and Chemicals,ensuring every project is grounded in business relevance.
2. Greater Efficiency, Less Waste
Industry-savvy project managers are inherently more effective at:
- Estimating realistic durations
- Forecasting bottlenecks
- Communicating across both technical teams and contractors
- Managing scope, cost, and risk with foresight
Timenow’s professionals function more like internal consultants than external vendors,leveraging decades of industry experience to make quick, informed decisions. Their services span the entire industrial asset lifecycle, including:
- Project Planning & Scheduling
- Cost Management
- Project Controls
- Construction Monitoring
- Program & Portfolio Management
With fewer assumptions and less ramp-up time, the result is a faster path to ROI.
3. Industry-Driven Innovation
Disruption isn’t a risk,it’s a constant. Project professionals must understand what’s coming and how to turn it into a competitive advantage.
Leaders with sector experience are better positioned to assess:
- What emerging technologies can actually achieve within their domain
- How changing regulations or sustainability goals will affect scope and execution
- What innovations are viable, and which are distractions
In fast-evolving environments, “knowing the art of the possible” is just as important as technical delivery. Timenow’s teams are trained to keep pace with big data, energy transition, sustainability trends, and more,so your projects don’t just survive disruption; they leverage it.
4. Trust, Alignment, and Results
Finally, project managers with relevant sector knowledge build stronger relationships across the board:
- They earn trust faster with engineering teams and plant managers
- Speak the same operational language as field teams and executives
- Spot hidden risks others might miss,and navigate them proactively
For complex capital projects, trust and rapport aren’t nice-to-haves. They’re critical levers for performance.
At Timenow, assigning project professionals based on industry vertical is a deliberate strategy,not chance. It’s why our clients consistently deliver on time, on budget, and with confidence in the outcome.
Sources
Project Management Institute. (2017). Job growth and talent gap 2017–2027. [Excerpts from “job-growth-report.pdf”].
Project Management Institute. (2018). Pulse of the profession 2018: Expanding the value delivery landscape to address the high cost of low performance. [Excerpts from “pulse-of-the-profession-2018.pdf”].