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Accenture has revealed it has laid off more than 11,000 employees over the last three months and signaled that further cuts may follow as part of an AI-led restructuring program.
The company reported that its global workforce shrank from about 791,000 in May to 779,000 by August.
The plan, which is expected to cost around $865 million in severance payments, will continue through November. The firm's leadership confirmed that those unable to transition into new skill areas may be included in future rounds.
Chief Executive Julie Sweet told investors: “We are exiting - on a compressed timeline - people where reskilling, based on our experience, is not a viable path for the skills we need.”
Training staff on AI platforms
Remaining employees are set to undergo large-scale training on artificial intelligence platforms. Sweet said: “Every new wave of technology has a time where you have to train and retool. Accenture’s core competency is to do that at scale.”
The company has already generated $2.6 billion in AI consulting revenue over the past six months. Its latest restructuring is designed to expand operating profit margins at what it described as its “historic” annual rate. The shift comes after a slowdown in demand for shorter-term client projects.
The restructuring places Accenture alongside other major firms that are turning to automation to offset economic pressures and operational challenges.
Caution over AI adoption strategies
While businesses increasingly pursue AI solutions, research indicates the rush is not always strategic. A survey showed 58% of companies adopting AI cited “pressure from competitors” as the driving factor.
Google research suggested AI could act as either a “mirror and multiplier,” depending on whether businesses adjust their structures and culture to accommodate it effectively. Analysts argue that successful deployment requires upskilling employees, reshaping workflows, and investing in the right talent to capture value.
Accenture has warned staff that adaptation is essential. Those who cannot retool for AI-driven roles may face redundancy. The firm’s decision highlights how workforce strategies are being redrawn as companies position themselves in the global competition over technology leadership.
The impact of the changes on Accenture’s performance and on the wider consulting market will become clearer in the months ahead.
