McKinsey & Company

McKinsey's reported headcount fell from 45,100 to roughly 40,000 over about 18 months. The firm attributes the decline to performance management rather than layoffs; in the same report, its spokesperson described AI-driven productivity, but no source establishes that AI caused these departures or identifies an AI-affected subset.

• · Business Insider reports a net headcount decline over roughly 18 months and attributes it to McKinsey's traditional performance management, not a single May 2025 layoff round. The headcount figure must not be summed as jobs cut or AI-replaced roles.
• · The exact Business Insider reporter sentence paraphrases the spokesperson's AI-productivity comment in the same headcount story, but neither McKinsey nor the outlet says AI caused the decline; the connection is contextual and speculative.
• · McKinsey separately told People Matters that the changes were not layoffs but its traditional performance management process. The company denies the layoff framing, not specifically an AI cause; no junior-consultant or research-role breakdown is supported by these sources.