Junior consultants called back to office as AI takes over basic analysis

Junior consultants called back to office as AI increases need for human skills

Deloitte, McKinsey and other consultancies are calling junior staff back to the office, the FT reports. AI now handles data gathering and basic analysis, so new hires need in-person time to build communication, judgment and client skills. Deloitte's UK consulting head says juniors used to learn through Excel and slide work—AI has cut that path short, and more face-to-face collaboration is the fix. The article doesn't give specific headcounts or timelines, but the direction is clear: as AI eats the grunt work, human soft skills become the premium.

Why it matters: FT exclusive with a named Deloitte UK consulting head confirming a concrete shift in junior training due to AI. Lacks specific headcount or timeline, capping the score.