Global consulting giant Accenture is undertaking a sweeping restructuring of its workforce as it doubles down on artificial intelligence, following annual revenues of USD 69.7 billion—a 7 percent increase over 2024. The company is blending layoffs with targeted hiring and large-scale reskilling to ensure it remains at the forefront of the AI-driven business transformation wave. CEO Julie Sweet reinforced this pivot, stating, “AI and upskilling are now at the core of everything we do.”
The transformation is supported by a USD 1 billion business optimisation programme, designed to deliver savings that will be redirected into innovation and workforce development. “We expect savings of over USD 1 billion from our business optimisation program, which we expect to reinvest in our business and in our people,” confirmed Chief Financial Officer Angie Park. To manage the restructuring, Accenture has allocated USD 865 million for severance and related costs, reflecting the magnitude of the changes underway.
Central to the company’s plan is reskilling on a massive scale. Already, 550,000 employees have been trained in generative AI fundamentals, equipping them to adapt to emerging enterprise needs. Alongside this, Accenture is rapidly expanding its AI and data talent pool, which now numbers 77,000 professionals—nearly double the 40,000 employed in 2023. Sweet emphasised the dual approach: “Our No. 1 strategy is upskilling… where we don’t have a viable path for skilling, we are exiting people so we can get more of the skills we need.”
Accenture’s shift is also being driven by strong client demand. Many organisations are turning to the firm for help with AI transformation, even as they acknowledge internal gaps in readiness. Sweet noted that “early investment in AI is paying off,” positioning Accenture as a strategic partner for enterprises seeking to embed AI into their operations.
The restructuring signals a broader global trend where companies are rethinking talent strategies in light of AI’s rapid rise. By combining cost optimisation, large-scale upskilling, and strategic hiring, Accenture is not only preparing its own workforce for an AI-first future but also aiming to cement its leadership role in guiding clients through the same transition.
