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In a move that has sparked global debate, Accenture has laid off more than 11,000 employees in the last three months. Despite the large-scale layoffs, Accenture has clarified that it still plans to hire more people in the upcoming financial year but only those who fit its artificial intelligence strategy. The question many are asking is simple: Why let people go while recruiting at the same time?
Accenture made its stance clear during its recent earnings call. According to Business Insider, during the company’s recent earnings call, Accenture CEO Julie Sweet explained that they are removing employees who cannot be retrained in AI. “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. She added that while some roles are being eliminated, the company will continue to expand headcount in areas aligned with AI.
In other words, employees who cannot transition to AI-powered roles are being let go regardless of tenure or experience.
Accenture’s global workforce dropped from 791,000 to 779,000 between May and August. But despite that decline, the company insists hiring will continue in the coming fiscal year — just not for traditional roles.
The new hiring priority is AI-driven jobs, including:
AI engineers
Data analysts
Automation experts
Cloud and cybersecurity specialists
Accenture is not downsizing it’s rebuilding its workforce for the AI era.
The layoffs are part of a broader restructuring plan that will run until November 2025. According to CFO Angie Park, Accenture will also offload two previously acquired companies in what it calls a “rapid talent rotation” strategy.
“These actions will result in cost savings which will be reinvested in our people and our business,” Park confirmed.
At the same time that it is cutting old roles, Accenture is pouring resources into AI development.
| AI Expansion Stats | Current Figures |
|---|---|
| AI & Data Specialists | 77,000 employees (doubled since 2023) |
| Employees Trained in Generative AI | Over 550,000 |
| CEO’s Vision | “Advanced AI is becoming a part of everything we do.” |
Sweet also stressed that Accenture doesn’t view AI as a tool for replacing humans but for expanding business opportunities.
Despite the layoffs, Accenture continues to perform well:
Revenue up 7% year-on-year
$17.6 billion generated between June and August 2025
Earnings beat market expectations
Sweet credited this momentum to the company’s early bet on AI transformation, saying clients are actively seeking guidance to “reinvent and lead with AI.”
Accenture is not alone. Companies like Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon are taking the same approach, Cut roles that can’t evolve. Hire aggressively for those that can.
Accenture’s message is loud and clear not just to its employees, but to professionals everywhere Your job isn’t safe because of your experience. It’s safe if your skills align with AI.
The workforce is changing fast. Those who upgrade will grow with it. Those who don’t may soon find themselves on the wrong side of the transition.
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