AI demand fuels consulting growth by 2026
Management consultants are betting on artificial intelligence to pull the industry out of a post-pandemic slowdown, with nearly 80% of firms expecting AI-related demand to drive growth this year.
The latest survey by the Management Consultancies Association (MCA) projects a 5.7% expansion for the sector in 2026, a slight dip from the 6.4% forecast at the start of last year. Growth is expected to accelerate to 7.4% in 2027, though the numbers reflect a cautious outlook after a record 23% surge in 2022.
AI demand outpaces sustainability
Consultants see AI as the dominant force shaping their business over the next three years. A separate Statista survey for the Financial Times found that 67% of industry respondents identified AI as the biggest driver of demand growth, far ahead of other digital technologies.
The MCA’s research aligns with that view. Nearly eight in ten consultants (78%) expect AI and other digital services to fuel sector expansion in 2026. In contrast, only 10% believe sustainability will rank among the top three fastest-growing consulting services this year—the lowest share in five years. Still, nearly half (48%) anticipate some growth in sustainability-related work.
Other areas poised for demand include cost reduction, cybersecurity, and risk mitigation, though none approach the prominence of AI.
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Adoption comes with challenges
Most firms have already integrated AI into their operations, with 77% reporting some level of adoption. Yet more than half (52%) of consultants cite AI as the industry’s leading challenge, pointing to the high costs of implementation and the need for specialized expertise.
Tamzen Isacsson, the MCA’s chief executive, said consultants have historically helped businesses handle uncertainty, and this moment is no different. “The UK consulting industry will play an important role in driving growth and digital innovation as our economy faces rapid technological change, economic pressures, and geopolitical challenges,” she said. “Consultants are helping organizations adopt new AI technologies responsibly, ethically, and effectively.”
That role extends beyond technology. Despite short-term pressures, Isacsson noted that consultants are also working to keep long-term priorities like sustainability on track for clients.
The shift toward AI reflects a broader pattern in the industry. After years of pandemic-driven demand, consultants are now recalibrating, with AI serving as both an opportunity and a hurdle. The question isn’t whether the technology will reshape the sector, but how quickly firms can adapt without getting buried in the costs.
For now, the numbers suggest cautious optimism—enough to keep the industry moving, but not enough to erase the memory of its recent boom.
