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Your next billion-dollar capital project faces a single point of failure: the people required to plan and execute it just do not exist.

The industry faces a severe labor deficit. Data confirms that 94% of construction contractors cannot fill open project controls positions

Additionally, 41% of the current workforce will retire by 2031. You cannot hire your way out of this shortage because the talent pool is drying up.

In this episode of The Risky Planner, Albert Brier and Nate Habermeyer analyze this deficit. They explain why scheduling and risk analysis require site-specific context that is vanishing as senior experts retire without transferring knowledge.

Key insights from this episode:

• The "Black Magic" of Planning: Effective scheduling is not data entry; it requires specific job-site context to identify risks before they become delays666. Replacing seasoned planners with remote resources removes this context and degrades project intelligence.
• The AI "Combo" Advantage: AI will not replace the scheduler, but it will expose the unskilled8. Research suggests that professionals who combine their expertise with AI ("Combos") outperform those using only AI or only manual methods.
• The Multitasking Dilution: Modern schedulers manage 12–15 projects simultaneously, a sharp increase from the historical standard of one dedicated planner per major project10101010. This task-switching reduces planners to data entry clerks doing the minimum required to feed reporting systems.
• The Risk Premium: Because effective risk management requires mastery of cost, schedule, and scope, qualified risk professionals now command a 20–40% salary premium over general project controls roles.

The Strategic Imperative:

You must build the talent you cannot find.

For Leaders: Stop searching for the perfect senior hire. Budget for the 3–5 years required to train apprentices under your remaining experts.

For Juniors: Find a mentor immediately15. Learn the foundational principles from the retiring generation, then apply modern AI tools to become the hybrid professional the market demands.

Next Step:

Listen to the full episode to restructure your teams before the retirement wave hits your portfolio.

Presented by Dokainish & Company www.dokainish.com

The Risky Planner podcast delivers expert insights on project controls, capital project management, and strategic planning for today's complex business environment. Subscribe for regular episodes featuring industry leaders and practical advice.