Consulting

The consulting industry is expected to experience strong employment growth during the next decade. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) notes that the professional and business services industry (which includes consulting firms) is the largest major industry. It employs nearly 14 percent of the total economy (excluding the self-employed), and the industry is expected to add more than 1.6 million new jobs by 2033. Plunkett Research Ltd. reports that “in nearly all business sectors, consultancies that focus on projects that clearly reduce business costs and enhance operating profits in a reasonably short period of time will find a ripe corporate market (such as consultants who focus on cash flow enhancement, supply chain efficiency, and manufacturing efficiency).”

According to a report by ResearchAndMarkets.com, the global management consulting services industry is projected to grow from $494.95 billion in 2025 to more than $872.75 billion in 2030, at an annual growth rate of 11.98 percent. “Modern consulting is undergoing profound transformation as technological disruptions, market realignments, and evolving client expectations converge to create a new era of advisory services," according to ResearchAndMarkets.com. "Rapid digitalization has accelerated the shift away from conventional methods and introduced a spectrum of innovative practices. Organizations are now leveraging advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing to drive operational efficiency and strategic innovation. These technological integrations are not just enhancing traditional consulting frameworks but are redefining the very nature of advisory services." The strategy advisory segment of the management consulting industry is expected to be its fastest-growing segment.

Major factors that are encouraging employment growth for consultants include increased government funding of major infrastructure projects (such as high-speed trains, highway and bridge construction, and the necessary repair of existing roads, bridges, etc.), health care reform (including the digitization of health records), and advances in technology [such as nanotechnology, biotechnology, renewable energy, Internet of Things, artificial intelligence (including machine learning), and data analytics software].

Growth in other industry sectors can also translate into opportunities for consultants. The DOL predicts that the following industries are expected to add the most new jobs through 2033:

1. health care and social assistance (private)
2. professional, scientific, and technical services
3. information
4. arts, entertainment, and recreation
5. utilities
6. management of companies and enterprises
7. construction
8. accommodation and food services
9. wholesale trade
10. finance and insurance

Health care remains the largest sector and has the most job openings, which has created continuing demand for health care consultants. “A range of client types within healthcare seek consulting services, including healthcare providers, insurance companies, and pharmaceutical firms,” according to the Monthly Labor Review. “Consulting firms assist clients in cutting costs, boosting revenue, and navigating governmental reimbursement and regulatory systems. As the population ages and healthcare spending becomes a larger share of the overall economy, healthcare consulting is expected to grow as well.”

On the other hand, there will be fewer consulting jobs in manufacturing, which has suffered major job losses in recent years. Employment for consultants who provide services to governments at the local, state, and federal levels will also slow as a result of declining tax revenues and shrinking government budgets. “This has been particularly hard on some consulting firms, since governmental agencies are prime clients for consultancies,” according to Plunkett Research, Ltd. Top consultants will still find many opportunities with government employers, since the sector is so large.

Employment for management consultants—one of the largest specialties in the field—is expected to increase much faster than the average (or 9 percent) than the average (3 percent) for all occupations from 2024 to 2034. Companies in many industries are expected to rely more and more on the expertise of these professionals to improve and streamline the performance of their organizations. Many job openings will result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other fields or leave the labor force. The DOL predicts that “growth is expected to be particularly strong in smaller consulting companies that specialize in specific industries or types of business function, such as information technology or human resources. Government agencies also are expected to seek the services of management analysts as they look for ways to reduce spending and improve efficiency.”

While strong overall, the employment outlook for management consultants varies by industry. Employment growth is expected to be especially strong for management consultants in the following industries through 2034:

• solar electric power generation: +175.8 percent
• state government (excluding education and hospitals): +22.0 percent
• services for the elderly and persons with disabilities: +21.2 percent
• computing infrastructure providers, data processing, web hosting, and related services: +20.5 percent
• home healthcare services: +18.7 percent
• software publishers: +18.5 percent
• educational support services (local): +15.2 percent
• computer systems design and related services: +15.4 percent
• beverage manufacturing: +13.9 percent

Employment is expected to decline in these industries:

• fossil fuel electric power generation: -30.1 percent
• apparel manufacturing: -27.0 percent
• motor vehicle parts manufacturing: -21.4 percent
• newspaper publishers: -17.9 percent
• nuclear electric power generation: -16.5 percent
• pulp, paper, and paperboard mills: -13.3 percent
• printing and related support activities: -12.6 percent
• telecommunications: -8.0 percent

Experienced management consultants with strong track records in their specialty earn high salaries—a median of $101,190 in May 2024, according to the DOL, much higher than the median salary ($49,500) for all careers. Plunkett Research, Ltd. reports that top consultants at firms such as the Boston Consulting Group bill clients as much as $5,000 daily, plus expenses. Associates at top firms bill clients $1,500 a day. High earning potential attracts many people to consulting and makes for a competitive job market. The DOL advises that job opportunities will be best for “those who have a graduate degree or a certification, specialized expertise, fluency in a foreign language, or a talent for sales and public relations.”

Information technology consulting is growing as technology permeates nearly every aspect of business, and the use of social media, mobile computing, cloud computing and data storage, IT security, AI, and online employee collaboration expands. More companies (especially IT-dependent companies such as Amazon and Netflix) realize that technology is not just a subsector of their infrastructure, but a business strategy issue. Companies will need consultants to help them analyze and use this data to improve their businesses. Additionally, the Monthly Labor Review reports that “firms are seeking guidance on how to implement AI, including generative AI programs, into their operations. Questions such as which functions to automate, how much to invest in AI, and which platforms provide the most benefit can be addressed by IT consulting. As AI has a wide range of potential uses but also uncertainty in how and when to implement it, IT consulting services are expected to be in high demand to help firms develop an approach to implementing AI tools.

The DOL predicts growth of 11 percent employment for computer systems analysts in management, scientific, and technical consulting services through 2034. This is faster than the average for all careers. Many analysts who are employed in this industry work as consultants, helping companies reorganize their IT departments, transition to cloud computing, integrate AI into existing products (or develop new AI-enabled products), or tackle other IT-related problems. Forrester Research Inc. reports that the information security consulting market is “growing explosively because security and risk professionals often lack the skill and bandwidth to accomplish their increasingly difficult mission.” Significant players—and major providers of jobs in this subspecialty—include EY, Deloitte, IBM, Accenture, PwC, and KPMG.

Employment in human resources consulting also looks bright after several years of slow growth. “Consultants who assist firms in lowering employee benefits costs are in high demand,” according to Plunkett Research Ltd., “as are those who specialize in change management, employee retention and employee productivity enhancement." Globally, the human resources consulting sector is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 14.4 percent from 2025 to 2030, according to Grand View Research. The data analytics firm says that "market growth is being driven by the increasing adoption of cloud-based HR solutions, AI-powered automation, and workforce analytics." The countries and regions that are expected to drive the annual growth rate are the United States, Canada, Japan, China, and Europe.

Environmental consultants will be in demand by many industries, but especially by the construction, renewable energy, natural gas and other fossil fuel, and waste management industries. Consultants with knowledge of energy efficiency and carbon emissions will have the best job opportunities. Approximately 152,000 people were employed in the U.S. environmental consulting industry in 2025, according to IBISWorld. In 2025, the sector’s 56,938 businesses generated revenue of $27.5 billion—up from $16 billion in 2019. "Companies have spent heavily on integrated solutions that address a wide range of environmental concerns, creating need for comprehensive expertise, moving beyond traditional environmental assessments and remediation," according to IBISWorld.