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- Hiring is back on in UK Consulting
Hiring is back on in UK Consulting
PLUS: This MBB firm is hiring in the USA
Consulting Humor
March 03, 2025
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Top story: UK consulting industry is back in hiring mode
Source: Financial Times
Consulting Recovery: After two years of cuts, the industry is rebounding, with a 5% growth forecast for 2025, driven by AI demand.
AI-Led Hiring Shift: While recruitment is increasing, firms are prioritizing AI skills and offshore hiring over pre-pandemic hiring levels.
Tech-Driven Strategy: Consulting firms are investing heavily in AI (£1.9M avg.), using it to automate tasks and focus on high-level strategy.
The UK consulting industry is heating back up.
The consulting industry is recovering after two years of budget cuts and layoffs, with demand driven by AI-related services. Hiring is rebounding, especially for skills in data, cloud services, cyber, and risk management. A Statista survey found that 67% of respondents expect AI to be the biggest growth area for UK consultancies, while economic downturns remain a top concern.
The Big Four firms—Deloitte, EY, PwC, and KPMG—were hit hard by the slowdown, but the market is expected to grow by 5% in 2025 after contracting 3.4% in 2024. Hiring is increasing, but not at pre-pandemic levels due to rising productivity and reduced travel. AI is reshaping the sector, with consulting firms investing significantly in AI to handle routine tasks while consultants focus on strategic work.
BCG sees AI strategy and implementation as key growth areas, along with resilience consulting. Cost reduction and digital transformation are also major drivers of demand, particularly in energy, infrastructure, and technology. Junior hires will need AI and client management skills, while senior roles will require sector expertise.
Despite the positive outlook, the industry is not yet at past hiring levels and is turning to offshore recruitment to meet demand. Three-quarters of consulting firms plan major AI investments, averaging £1.9 million over the next two years, to enhance efficiency and focus on high-level strategy.
Read more here.
Gossip roundup
Source: McKinsey
RTO is back, according to McKinsey
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