General · 2 December 2025
AI Forces Top Consulting Giants to Freeze Salaries as Traditional Business Model Crumbles
Major consulting firms including McKinsey, BCG and Bain have frozen starting salaries for three consecutive years as artificial intelligence threatens the traditional pyramid staffing model. Graduate recruitment has plummeted by up to 44% across the Big Four accounting firms, with AI increasingly handling entry-level tasks previously done by junior consultants. Firms are exploring new organizational structures including obelisk and hourglass models as they reduce reliance on large cohorts of junior staff while accelerating investment in AI capabilities.
Reported by The Irish Times · How we write briefs