Accenture Layoffs: The Company Cuts 11,000 Jobs in Bold AI Push
Accenture announced a sweeping restructuring plan that will cost an estimated $865 million, and it has already resulted in more than 11,000 layoffs over the past three months.
The company is targeting roles where reskilling into AI-relevant work is deemed infeasible, while still hiring in areas aligned with its strategic priorities.
Julie Sweet, Accenture’s CEO, described the decision bluntly:
“We are exiting on a compressed timeline, people where reskilling, based on our experience, is not a viable path for the skills we need.”
In parallel, Accenture has already trained over 550,000 employees in generative AI and nearly doubled its AI and data specialist ranks to 77,000.
Even as roles vanish, Accenture expects to expand headcount next fiscal year across the U.S., Europe, and Asia.
Angie Park, CFO of Accenture, reportedly said the company is also shedding two acquisitions as part of a “rapid talent rotation.”
“These actions will result in cost savings which will be reinvested in our people and our business.” She added.
Revenue in the latest quarter hit $17.6 billion, topping analyst forecasts, and new bookings reached $21.3 billion.
That said, projected growth for fiscal year 2026 is modest, around 2 to 5 percent, and reflects headwinds from reduced public sector spending and macro pressures.
This move stands out for its clarity: Accenture is not waiting for gradual transformation. It is forcing alignment quickly and making hard cuts where it sees no feasible path to AI readiness. Many in the consulting sector may feel this signals a new threshold—either you evolve in lockstep with AI or risk obsolescence.
At the same time, the company’s dual strategy, exiting some roles while hiring in others, reflects a broader truth about today’s tech economy: the talent shift is accelerating. Organizations that don’t combine ruthless judgment with serious investment in people may find themselves unable to compete.
For professionals, this is a stark reminder: technical skills alone may not be enough. The next level demands versatility, a capacity for reskilling, and readiness to redefine your value in an AI era.
