Accenture says H-1B visas are not a major concern, only 5% of US staff affected

Accenture CEO Julie Sweet said H-1B visas are not a major concern for the company, noting that just 5% of its US workforce is on such visas. “This is really a non-issue because we only have about 5% of our people in the US on H-1B visas, and they're for really specialised experience and skills for our clients. Not something that's really a big impact on Accenture,” she said during an earnings call on Thursday.

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A Kotak Institutional Equities report showed that Accenture has steadily reduced its reliance on H-1B visas. Initial approvals dropped to 190 in the first nine months of 2025, compared with 3,442 in 2015.

Accenture’s total headcount fell by 11,419 sequentially in the September quarter, bringing the workforce to 770,000 employees, including over 350,000 in India. CFO Angie Park said the company launched a six-month business optimisation programme in Q4, recording a $615 million charge, with an additional $250 million expected in Q1. “The business optimisation programme has two parts: one related to rapid talent rotation that Julie mentioned, which reflects severance associated with headcount reductions that we are making in a compressed timeline, and second, related to the divestiture of two acquisitions that are no longer aligned with our strategic priorities. These actions will result in cost savings, which will be reinvested in our people and our business,” Park said.

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For fiscal year 2025, Accenture reported a 7% revenue increase, with growth across all verticals and geographies. The operating margin rose to 15.6%, up 10 basis points from the previous year. Of the total revenue growth, 4% was organic and 3% inorganic. In Q4, revenue grew 4.5%, with all geographies reporting gains, though healthcare declined 3%. By industry group, media & technology grew 6%, BFSI rose 10%, health & public service increased 7%, and products advanced 8%. Regionally, Q4 revenues grew 5% in the Americas, 3% in EMEA, and 6% in Asia-Pacific.

The new H-1B visa fee, announced by US President Donald Trump, sets a $100,000 application cost for new petitions, effective September 2025. The policy is aimed at reducing reliance on foreign labor and encouraging domestic hiring. While companies like Accenture have minimal exposure, other US firms heavily dependent on H-1B talent may face higher staffing costs, leading some to rely more on offshore teams or adjust hiring strategies.

Accenture’s focus on AI and digital services, with around 77,000 professionals in these areas, positions the company to continue growth while navigating evolving visa regulations. The firm also plans further workforce expansion in FY26, prioritising upskilling and leveraging AI to boost productivity.