Autobayng News Team
While reducing roles that do not align with its future needs, Accenture is simultaneously expanding its AI capabilities.“>
Global consulting major Accenture has laid off over 11,000 employees worldwide over the past three months as part of its ongoing restructuring efforts to build an AI-ready workforce. The company said that the decision primarily affects employees who could not be retrained in artificial intelligence (AI) skills, even as it plans to expand hiring in the next fiscal year.
According to a Business Insider report, Accenture CEO Julie Sweet told analysts during an earnings call that the company is “exiting employees” where reskilling is not a viable path. “We are exiting on a compressed timeline, people where reskilling, based on our experience, is not a viable path for the skills we need,” she said.
At the end of August, Accenture’s global headcount stood at 779,000, down from 791,000 three months earlier. The layoffs, which began earlier this year, are expected to continue until November 2025. The restructuring, which includes severance costs, is projected to save the company over $1 billion.
Accenture’s Chief Financial Officer Angie Park said the company will also divest two acquisitions as part of a “rapid talent rotation” strategy. “These actions will result in cost savings which will be reinvested in our people and our business,” she said.
Building an AI-Ready Workforce
While reducing roles that do not align with its future needs, Accenture is simultaneously expanding its AI capabilities. The firm has doubled its AI and data specialist workforce to 77,000 since 2023 and trained more than 550,000 employees in generative AI.
“Advanced AI is becoming a part of everything we do,” Sweet said, adding that the company views AI not as “deflationary” but “expansionary”.
Despite the layoffs, Accenture reported a 7 per cent year-on-year rise in revenue to $17.6 billion for the June–August quarter of fiscal 2025, surpassing market estimates. Sweet said the results demonstrate the company’s “unique ability to deliver for clients as they seek our help to reinvent and lead with AI”.
Accenture’s restructuring mirrors a broader industry shift, as tech giants such as Meta, Microsoft, and others also cut traditional roles while expanding AI-focused teams. For white-collar professionals, the message is clear — adapt to AI or risk obsolescence.
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