Decline in Management Consultants in Orange County

The skyline of Orange County reflecting the current challenges in the management consulting sector.

News Summary

Management consulting firms in Orange County are facing challenges with an 8% decline in consultant numbers, marking the second consecutive year of losses. Despite a modest decline in 2024, nine out of the 20 major consulting firms reported decreased consultant counts, with Deloitte and Accenture showing significant drops. While some firms like KPMG maintained stability, others like PwC experienced growth in total employees despite losing consultants. The overall consulting market in the region is feeling the impact of reduced demand, raising questions about future performance.

Orange County – Management consulting firms in Orange County recorded an 8% decline in the number of consultants as of May 2025, marking the second consecutive year of losses in this sector. This drop follows a modest 1% decline reported in 2024, highlighting a trend of diminishing consultant numbers across the region’s consulting firms.

Of the 20 major consulting firms in Orange County, nine reported declines in their local consultant counts. Notable firms such as Deloitte experienced a significant decline, with its consultant numbers falling from 361 to 340 at its Costa Mesa office. Deloitte’s overall employee count also decreased by 4.5% to 1,032 since May 2024. Similarly, Accenture saw a drop in its consultant numbers from 347 to 312 at its Irvine location. Accenture now reports the smallest total employee count among the top five consulting firms in Orange County, with 351 employees, down from 390 in the previous year.

Other firms have also faced challenges. PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), which dropped from its previous third place to fifth, reported a striking 19% decline in its consultants, falling from 166 to 135 at its Irvine office. Interestingly, despite the drop in consultants, PwC’s overall employee count increased by 3.7% to 530.

KPMG remains stable, maintaining its consultant count at 163, positioning it at number three in the rankings. The firm’s total employee count has risen by over 2% to 474. In contrast, Ernst & Young was the only firm in the top ten to report an increase in consultants, rising from 151 to 157, and climbing to the fourth position. Furthermore, Ernst & Young’s overall employee base increased by 5.5% to 668.

Among smaller firms, RSM US LLP faced the steepest decline, losing 27% of its consultants, going from 103 to 75. Slalom also reported a 13% decrease, dropping from 119 to 104 consultants. Profit Recovery Partners experienced a 9.8% decline from 122 to 110 consultants. Conversely, Talley LLP reported a 15% increase in consultants, moving from 20 to 23.

Another smaller firm, Blythe Global Advisors, reported a 4% decrease in consultant numbers, contributing to an overall decline attributed to reduced demand. RSM US’s struggles were compounded by the sale of its Professional Services+ (PS+) advisory unit to Aprio in 2025, as well as recent executive leadership changes.

The management consulting market as a whole has seen a slowdown following robust growth in 2022. Collectively, firms reported an overall decrease of 5% in total consultant numbers this year, a clear drop from the previously observed annual growth rates. This downturn in the consulting sector raises questions about future performance and the market dynamics in Orange County.

As Orange County’s management consulting firms continue to navigate these challenging trends, the industry remains vigilant, looking for signs of recovery and opportunities in a fluctuating economic landscape.