Human
NeEW YORK McKinsey & Company, the global management consultancy, is weighing plans to cut thousands of jobs over the next two years as the rapid rise of artificial intelligence transforms the way work is done in the industry. Senior leaders have held preliminary discussions about reducing headcount by roughly 10% in some non-client-facing departments, a move that could result in a few thousand layoffs spread over 18 to 24 months, according to reports citing people familiar with the matter.
The discussions come as the firm approaches its 100th anniversary amid flat revenue growth and broader economic pressures that have led other consultancies and corporations to cut staff. McKinsey's workforce peaked at about 45,000 in recent years but has since declined to near 40,000 following earlier reductions.
A McKinsey spokesperson framed the review as necessary in "a moment shaped by rapid advances in AI that are transforming business and society," telling the publication Computing that the firm is looking to improve the efficiency of its support operations.
Industry analysts say the potential cuts, focused largely on back-office and tech support roles, reflect how automation and AI tools are reshaping demand for traditional consulting work. The agency has already eliminated around 200 global technology jobs this month as part of an ongoing shift toward AI-enabled tasks.
While no final decisions have been made on the scale or locations of the reductions, the planning phase underscores McKinsey's effort to balance investing in client-facing consultants with scaling AI and automation internally. The moves mirror broader trends in corporate restructuring as firms grapple with economic uncertainty and new technologies.
