Accenture to phase out workers who can’t reskill for AI under a broader restructuring push

Accenture said it will “exit” employees who cannot be retrained for artificial intelligence as the consulting giant reorients its business around AI. CEO Julie Sweet told investors the firm has already trained 550,000 workers on generative AI fundamentals and launched a six-month, $865 million optimization program tied to severance and headcount cuts. The company expects more than $1 billion in savings, which CFO Angie Park said will be reinvested in operations and people while still expanding margins. Accenture ended the year with $69.7 billion in revenue, up 7% on strong client demand for AI deployments, and has grown its AI and data ranks to 77,000 from 40,000 in 2023. Despite targeted exits, the firm plans to increase hiring next fiscal year, particularly in the U.S. and Europe, as it accelerates an AI-first strategy.

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