Accenture cuts 22K jobs in AI-led restructuring

The company said its global headcount stood at around 779,000 employees in August, down from 791,000 in May and 801,000 in February. Employees who are unable to transition to new skill areas during this period may be included in future rounds, the company said.

CEO Julie Sweet told investors they are laying off staff 'where reskilling, based on our experience, is not a viable path for the skills we need.'

Sweet added that remaining employees will undergo large-scale training on AI platforms. "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."

According to the firm, more than 550,000 employees have already been trained in generative AI. It also announced plans to acquire Aidemy Inc., a talent reskilling specialist, to strengthen its LearnVantage reskilling and learning service and enhance its end-to-end AI support.

Accenture said the layoffs are part of a broader reoptimization strategy aimed at streamlining its operations and increasing its footprint in the AI space. The company has already generated $2.6 billion in AI consulting revenue over the last six months and expects operating profit margins to grow at a 'historic' annual rate.

Chief financial officer Angie Park said the optimizations would also include the divestiture of 'acquisitions that are no longer aligned with our strategic priorities'. 

"These actions will result in cost-savings, which will be reinvested in our people and our business," Park said during a quarterly earnings call. 

Despite the layoffs, Accenture expects its global headcount to grow in 2026 due to strong demand for digital transformation and AI-driven services.