CEO Julie Sweet says Accenture is hiring additional entry-level positions worldwide
Julie Sweet has said that fears about artificial intelligence eliminating junior jobs may be overstated, noting that Accenture is actually increasing its hiring of entry-level employees across major global markets this year.
Speaking on the Rapid Response podcast hosted by Bob Safian, Sweet said the company plans to recruit more entry-level employees in 2026 than it did last year, arguing that recent college graduates may be better prepared for an AI-driven workplace. According to her, young professionals entering the workforce today already have strong exposure to AI tools and are comfortable using them in everyday work.
She said this familiarity gives new graduates a clear advantage over employees who joined the company just a few years ago. Many students are already using AI regularly for learning, coding, research and productivity, which makes them naturally more fluent in the technology when they enter the workplace.
Sweet explained that the rise of AI does not necessarily mean eliminating jobs but rather redesigning them. At Accenture, several roles have been “reconstituted,” meaning routine tasks that can be automated are being removed while more human-centric responsibilities—such as analysis, decision-making and collaboration—are being emphasised.
She added that entry-level positions remain crucial for companies because they help build the next generation of experienced professionals. Instead of reducing junior hiring, organisations must rethink how these roles evolve alongside AI.
Training programmes for new hires have also been updated. In addition to technical knowledge, Accenture now places greater emphasis on communication skills, strategic thinking and the ability to work effectively with AI tools.
The hiring push reflects Accenture’s broader strategy to become an AI-first organisation. Sweet acknowledged that this transformation requires leaders across the company—not just engineers—to understand how artificial intelligence changes the way work is performed. She said leadership training is essential because managers must learn to ask whether AI can complete certain tasks before continuing with traditional work processes.
Sweet, who became CEO of Accenture in 2019 and later took on the role of chair in 2021, has been leading the company’s AI-focused transformation. Before joining Accenture in 2010, she spent a decade as a partner at the law firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP.
She also noted that AI adoption across businesses is not only about deploying advanced models. Many organisations first need to simplify and standardise their internal processes before introducing AI systems. According to Sweet, companies that simply apply AI to outdated structures will see only limited benefits.
Financially, the company is already seeing strong demand for AI services. Accenture reported $2.2 billion in advanced AI bookings in the first quarter of FY26, representing roughly 76–83% year-on-year growth, while AI-related revenue reached $1.1 billion, up about 120% from the previous year.
Across the current fiscal year so far, the firm has secured $11.5 billion worth of advanced AI projects across around 11,000 engagements, generating approximately $4.8 billion in revenue.
The Dublin-headquartered consulting firm reported quarterly revenue of $18.7 billion, a 5% increase year-on-year in constant currency terms, beating analyst expectations. Consulting revenues rose 3% year-on-year, while managed services revenue grew 7%, showing continued demand for outsourcing deals.
Among industry segments, financial services delivered the strongest growth, expanding 12% year-on-year in constant currency terms.
Accenture maintained its FY26 constant-currency revenue growth forecast of 2–5%, excluding a 1% drag from its US federal business and including around 1.5% growth from acquisitions. This implies organic growth of roughly 0.5% to 3.5% for the year.
