Business
Accenture Braces For Slowdown: Layoffs Loom, $865M In Deals Scrapped
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Accenture is cutting jobs, exiting parts of its portfolio as it braces for slower growth in FY26, highlighting mounting pressure in IT services sector
Accenture (File Photo)
Accenture is cutting jobs and exiting parts of its portfolio as it braces for slower growth in FY26, highlighting mounting pressure across the global IT services sector despite sustained investment in AI and cloud.
CEO Julie Sweet said the company is “exiting, on a compressed timeline, people where re-skilling is not a viable path for the skills we need,” during its September 25 earnings call. She did not provide a layoff figure, but headcount decreased by approximately 7,000 in Q4 FY25, reducing the workforce to roughly 770,000.
The restructuring comes amid moderating growth and softer client demand, even as Accenture doubles down on generative AI and cloud offerings. “We continue to see pockets of strong AI-driven demand, [but] overall growth in our key markets is moderating,” Sweet said.
Accenture now expects FY26 revenue to rise just 2–5% in local currency—well below last year’s 7%—excluding a further 1–1.5-point drag from its slowing U.S. federal business. That unit has been hit by procurement disruptions under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the Elon Musk-led agency reshaping federal contracts.
CFO Angie Park said the company will prioritise operational efficiency and higher-return investments, with plans to divest about $865 million in non-core assets and exit under-performing acquisitions.
Despite the cuts, Accenture said it will keep hiring and re-skilling in priority areas to support delivery, and expects headcount growth in the U.S. and Europe during FY26.
The realignment underscores broader turbulence in IT services: Tata Consultancy Services has already laid off more than 12,000 employees this year, citing skill mismatches and slowing demand.
Accenture’s shares slipped about 2% after the earnings release, reflecting investor unease over the weaker growth outlook and strategic pullbacks.
Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a…Read More
Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a… Read More
September 26, 2025, 08:45 IST
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