Employment for management consultants is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2033, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook. Industry and government agencies 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 consultants who transfer to other fields or leave the labor force.
Competition for management consulting jobs will be strong. Employers can choose from a large pool of applicants who have a wide variety of educational backgrounds and experience. The challenging nature of this job, coupled with high salary potential, attracts many. A graduate degree, experience and expertise in the industry, as well as a knack for public relations, are needed to stay competitive.
Trends that have increased the growth of employment in this field include advancements in information technology (especially advanced artificial intelligence) and e-commerce, the growth of international business, and fluctuations in the economy that have forced businesses to streamline and downsize.
The DOL predicts that opportunities will be best at very large consulting firms that have expertise in international business and in smaller firms that focus on providing consulting services in specific areas such as biotechnology, engineering, information technology, health care, marketing, and human resources. Employment for management analysts and consultants who specialize in "green" consulting services that help companies improve energy efficiency and implement "green" initiatives will also be strong.
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:
- solar electric power generation
- beverage manufacturing
- state government (excluding education and hospitals)
- electric power generation
- home healthcare services
- warehousing and storage
- federal government
- software publishers
- computing infrastructure providers, data processing, web hosting, and related services
Employment for management consultants is expected to decline in the following industries:
- apparel manufacturing
- motor vehicle parts manufacturing
- newspaper publishers
- printing and related support activities
- telecommunications
- oil and gas extraction
- furniture and related product manufacturing
- postal service
- Accountants
- Agricultural Consultants
- Ambassadors
- Arbitrators
- Auditors
- Automotive Dealership Owners
- Bank Examiners
- Billing Clerks
- Bookkeeping and Accounting Clerks
- Budget Analysts
- Business Continuity Planners
- Business Development Managers and Directors
- Business Intelligence Analysts
- Business Managers
- Buyers
- Career and Employment Counselors
- Career and Employment Technicians
- Chief Customer Officers
- Chief Executive Officers
- Chief Financial Officers
- Chief Information Officers
- Chief Information Security Officers
- Chief Restructuring Officers
- Chief Revenue Officers
- Chief Robotics Officer
- Chief Sustainability Officers
- Chief Trust Officers
- Client Services Managers
- Collection Workers
- Community Health Program Coordinators
- Compliance Managers
- Continuous Improvement Managers
- Corporate Climate Strategists
- Corporate Community Relations Directors
- Corporate Lawyers
- Corporate Librarians
- Cost Estimators
- Cultural Advisers
- Customer Service Directors
- Customer Service Representatives
- Customer Success Managers
- Customs Brokers
- Customs Officials
- Data Entry Clerks
- Data Scientists
- Database Specialists
- Decision Scientists
- Digital Workplace Experience Engineers
- Directors of Corporate Sponsorship
- Directors of Security
- Directors of Volunteers
- Document Management Specialists
- Economists
- Employment Firm Workers
- Energy Consultants
- Entrepreneurs
- Environmental Consultants
- Ergonomists
- Ethical Sourcing Officer
- Event Planners
- Executive Recruiters
- Export-Import Specialists
- Fashion Models' Agents
- Federal and State Officials
- Financial Analysts
- Financial Consultants
- Financial Quantitative Analysts
- Foreign Service Officers
- Forensic Accountants and Auditors
- Franchise Owners
- Fraud Examiners, Investigators, and Analysts
- Health Care Consultants
- Health Care Managers
- Health Club Owners and Managers
- Health Data Analysts
- Human Resources Consultants
- Human Resources Managers
- Indoor Environmental Health Specialists
- Information Security Analysts
- Information Technology Consultants
- Information Technology Infrastructure Engineers
- Information Technology Security Consultants
- Internet Consultants
- Internet Executives
- Internet Marketing and Advertising Consultants
- Internet Store Managers and Entrepreneurs
- Internet Transaction Specialists
- Interpreters
- Labor Union Business Agents
- Learning Innovations Designers
- Legal Operations Specialists
- Life Coaches
- Loss Prevention Managers
- Market Research Analysts
- Marketing Consultants
- Merchant Mariners
- Military Recruiters
- Music Agents and Scouts
- Music Venue Owners and Managers
- Office Administrators
- Payroll Directors
- Personnel and Labor Relations Specialists
- Political Consultants
- Press Secretaries
- Product Designers
- Professional Organizers
- Project Managers
- Proposal Managers
- Public Relations Specialists
- Purchasing Agents
- Receptionists
- Regulatory Affairs Managers
- Regulatory Affairs Specialists
- Sales Managers
- Sales Representatives
- Secretaries
- Security Consultants
- Security Guards
- Space Tourism Managers
- Statisticians
- Stenographers
- Strategy Managers
- Tax Managers
- Temporary Workers
- Traffic Managers
- Translators
- Typists and Word Processors
- Workplace Diversity Experts
