By Priya Raghuvanshi

Copyright timesnownews

Global consulting giant Accenture has laid off over 11,000 employees globally in the past quarter, marking a significant shift in its operational strategy, according to The Economic Times report. The move comes as the company recalibrates its workforce to align with fast-growing demands for artificial intelligence (AI)-driven solutions and faces a slowdown in traditional corporate services. According to a Times of India report released Saturday, the wave of layoffs reflects a broader trend in the tech and consulting industries, where rapid AI adoption is reshaping workforce structures and business priorities. A Strategic Pivot, Not Just a Downsizing CEO Julie Sweet clarified the rationale behind these sweeping changes. Rather than opting to reskill all affected employees, the company has chosen to pursue workforce exits as a more viable path. “Every new wave of technology has a time where you have to train and retool,” Sweet remarked. “Accenture’s core competency is to do that at scale.” The layoffs are part of a broader $865 million restructuring effort designed to realign the company’s workforce with the evolving needs of its clients, especially those seeking AI-led transformations. Betting Big on Agentic AI While thousands are exiting, the company is simultaneously doubling down on upskilling. Accenture is actively training its entire global staff, more than 700,000 employees, in agentic AI. This investment underscores the firm’s long-term belief that the future lies in scalable, intelligent systems capable of autonomous decision-making and action. Revenue Strong, But Forecasts Conservative Despite the workforce reduction, Accenture reported a stronger-than-expected Q4 revenue of $17.6 billion, surpassing analyst projections of $17.36 billion. However, the company’s full-year 2026 revenue outlook sits between 2 per cent and 5 per cent, just under the market estimate of 5.3 per cent, according to LSEG data. As Accenture continues to recalibrate in response to AI and shifting client priorities, its latest restructuring reflects the high-stakes balancing act of staying ahead in a rapidly evolving digital economy.