PwC US Cuts 600 Support Staff as AI Replaces Executive Assistant Work
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · May 22
PwC US Cuts 600 Support Staff as AI Replaces Executive Assistant Work
4 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · May 22
About 600 PwC US executive assistants, recruiters and other support staff were laid off in February, hitting non-client-facing roles after months of internal uncertainty.
The cuts were driven by cost savings and a push to integrate AI into support work such as managing calendars, expenses and travel.
Executive assistant jobs had been one of the few white-collar roles without elite credential requirements, yet could still pay more than $100,000 a year with bonuses.
PwC is part of a broader shift across professional-services firms including McKinsey and EY, which are also cutting or relocating support roles as automation expands.
Are 'AI-driven layoffs' a sign of innovation or just a new excuse for old-fashioned cost-cutting?
Is AI killing the executive assistant job, or creating a new kind of strategic partner?
PwC’s 2026 Layoffs: Human, Ethical, and Strategic Impacts of AI and Industry Shifts
Overview
In February 2026, PwC US initiated significant layoffs, mainly targeting 'talent people' roles in the recruiting pipeline and broader support staff. This move was a strategic response to lean times, aiming to reduce personnel not directly generating revenue. The layoffs reflect a common industry practice of scaling back support staff to manage costs and, from an industry perspective, can also boost partner compensation. By cutting key recruiting roles, PwC signals an expectation of further pipeline deterioration, raising concerns about its future ability to attract new talent and maintain operational capacity.