Global consulting giant Accenture has laid off more than 11,000 employees across the world in the past three months as it looks to reshape its workforce for the age of artificial intelligence. The company confirmed that these employees were those who could not be retrained or reskilled for roles that demand AI knowledge. At the same time, Accenture said the company continues to expand hiring and will grow its employee base in the next financial year.

During the latest earnings call, Chief Executive Officer Julie Sweet clarified the company’s approach, saying they are “exiting” employees for whom reskilling was not a viable option. She highlighted that the shift is rapid and deliberate as the company sees future demand primarily in digital and AI‑driven roles. “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 told analysts.

Job Cuts and Headcount Trends

The magnitude of the layoffs is significant, with more than 11,000 roles eliminated in just one quarter. The latest figures reveal that Accenture’s global employee strength stood at 779,000 at the end of August, compared to 791,000 three months earlier.

The layoffs are part of a continuing restructuring plan that started earlier in 2025 and is likely to continue till November. Apart from severance and other related costs, the process is expected to yield over $1 billion in savings for the firm.

Accenture Chief Financial Officer Angie Park explained that this restructuring also involves divesting two acquisitions as part of what it calls “rapid talent rotation.” She stressed that the cost savings will not simply be pocketed by the company but reinvested into its people and businesses, especially in domains aligned with future growth like AI.

Investment in Artificial Intelligence Training

While reducing numbers in roles outdated by new technology, Accenture has made it clear that its investment in AI is growing rapidly. The firm has doubled its AI and data specialists to 77,000 since 2023. Additionally, it has embraced one of the world’s biggest corporate reskilling drives, training more than 550,000 employees to work with generative AI tools.

Julie Sweet said that advanced AI is no longer a side project but is becoming a part of everything the company delivers. She also rejected the notion that AI will crush jobs permanently, instead framing it as expansionary. In her words, Accenture views AI as “a growth engine,” which will create new opportunities even as it eliminates outdated skill requirements.

This direction is not unique to Accenture alone. The company is moving in line with global technology giants such as Microsoft and Meta, which have trimmed traditional job roles while adding thousands of AI‑related positions. Experts view this as a clear signal to professionals worldwide: adapting AI skills is no longer optional.

Strong Revenues Amid Restructuring

Interestingly, Accenture’s deep restructuring comes at a time when its business performance remains strong. The firm reported a 7 percent year‑on‑year rise in revenue to $17.6 billion in the June–August quarter of fiscal 2025, beating market forecasts.

Julie Sweet described the results as evidence of Accenture’s ability to help clients reinvent themselves with AI. She stressed that AI is already shaping business operations across industries, and clients increasingly look for expertise in digital transformation. The company feels well‑placed to capture these opportunities by focusing on AI talent and reducing roles that do not align with future needs.

This balancing act of firing thousands of people on one hand while hiring aggressively on the other reflects a bigger global reality. Companies are now clear that traditional roles without AI exposure face risks. At the same time, those who can adapt to the technological shift will find more opportunities opening up in the AI era.

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