Consulting giants split on graduate hiring as AI disrupts the industry

Top consulting firms are adjusting their graduate hiring plans as artificial intelligence reshapes the industry. While some companies have reduced entry-level roles, others are expanding recruitment to build expertise for the future.

Bain & Co has raised its graduate intake targets twice this year, aiming for a 25% increase compared to 2023.

Bain & Co now plans to hire 'triple-digit numbers' of graduates and junior consultants. Managing partner Clare Gordon explained that the firm needs younger staff to develop specialised skills over time. The company has already boosted its recruitment goals twice in 2024.

Boston Consulting Group (BCG) expects to maintain or slightly increase its hiring levels this year. Meanwhile, Alvarez & Marsal is preparing to grow its graduate programmes over the next few years. Antonio Alvarez III, the firm’s European Practice lead, is working with universities to establish new graduate schemes. The wider consultancy sector has seen cuts in entry-level positions as AI changes how junior staff work. Clients are also adjusting their demands, questioning both the services provided and the fees charged. Many firms have scaled back graduate recruitment in response to these shifts.

Bain & Co’s graduate intake will rise by 25% this year, while Alvarez & Marsal builds long-term hiring plans. The industry continues to adapt as AI alters traditional consulting roles. Firms now face changing client expectations alongside evolving workforce needs.