McKinsey vs. BCG: A Shifting Landscape in Consulting Headcount Growth

Diverging Growth Strategies

Recent data from LinkedIn’s publicly available company page insights shows a clear trend:

• In January 2023, McKinsey had a 42% higher employee count than BCG.

• By mid-2023, the gap had shrunk to 33%, and by early 2024, it had decreased further to 32%.

• By July 2024, the difference had narrowed significantly to 18%, and as of early 2025, McKinsey's lead over BCG is just 10%.

This shift raises several important questions about the strategic choices behind these trends.

What’s Driving the Change?

1. Hiring Strategy & Market Conditions

   • Is BCG more aggressive in hiring talent while McKinsey takes a more measured approach?

   • Could economic conditions be influencing firms differently, with BCG focusing on expansion while McKinsey exercises caution?

2. Business Focus & Service Offerings

   • Are differences in client demand shaping headcount growth?

   • BCG has been expanding into digital transformation and tech-focused consulting—could this be driving a larger workforce need?

3. Mergers & Acquisitions

   • Have recent M&A activities contributed to BCG’s rapid growth?

   • McKinsey has traditionally pursued organic growth—could this be impacting its ability to keep pace?

What’s Next?

If this trend continues, BCG could surpass McKinsey in employee count for the first time in its history. But does headcount growth necessarily translate to greater market influence, revenue, or prestige?

With consulting firms adapting to AI, evolving client demands, and shifting economic conditions, headcount alone is just one piece of the puzzle.

What are the perspectives from those in the industry?

• Does firm size matter in today’s consulting landscape?

• What role does hiring play in maintaining a competitive edge?

• How do you see McKinsey and BCG evolving in the next few years?

(Disclaimer: This analysis is based on publicly available LinkedIn Company Page “Insights.” The author has no affiliation with either firm—just an observer of industry trends.)