Accenture will promote nearly 50,000 employees worldwide in June this year, according to a report by Bloomberg News. This decision comes after the company delayed its usual round of promotions by six months due to a slowdown in demand for consulting services.
The global consulting and technology firm, which is headquartered in Dublin, had initially planned to roll out promotions in December 2024. But the move was pushed to June 2025 as the company faced weaker demand and uncertain business conditions.
INDIA TO SEE HIGHEST NUMBER
Out of the 50,000 promotions, about 15,000 will take place in India. This makes India the country with the highest number of staff being promoted this time. According to the internal memo seen by Bloomberg, the company will also promote 11,000 employees across the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, and another 10,000 across the Americas.
Accenture currently employs about 801,000 people around the world, as per its latest earnings report. That means about 6% of the company’s global workforce will be promoted this June.
SHIFT IN PROMOTION TIMING
The company’s decision to delay promotions was part of a broader plan to manage costs during a time of falling demand. Like other large consulting firms such as McKinsey and Ernst & Young, Accenture hired heavily during the pandemic when demand for digital services was high. However, in recent times, business has slowed, forcing the company to take cost-cutting steps.
In 2023, Accenture reduced its workforce by around 19,000 employees to adjust to lower client spending. Other firms have also made similar decisions. Bloomberg earlier reported that Deloitte is also planning job cuts in its government consulting team.
IMPACT OF BUSINESS SLOWDOWN
In an internal memo quoted by Bloomberg, Accenture noted that its operating margin—how much profit it makes as a percentage of revenue—had declined compared to the second quarter of the previous year. The company said it was also facing a high level of uncertainty in both the global economy and the geopolitical landscape.
The memos also said that there will be some base salary increases in key growth areas. These raises will depend on market trends in those areas. However, decisions about bonuses and performance-based equity rewards will be taken later, in December.
The company’s move to go ahead with promotions after a delay appears to be aimed at improving staff morale. The internal memos, according to Bloomberg, show that Accenture is trying to strike a balance between managing costs and rewarding high-performing employees.