Accenture Lays Off 1,500 More Workers

Accenture Ltd. will slash 1,500 jobs, or about 2% of its work force, the second round of layoffs at the giant consulting firm this year as it continues to contend with the global economic slowdown.

Accenture, which was formerly named Andersen Consulting, said about 1,000 consultants will be cut in the United States, and the remaining 500 jobs will include support positions worldwide.

In June, the company said it was eliminating 600 support jobs and trimming an additional 800 positions through voluntary sabbaticals lasting between six months and a year.

The latest round of layoffs comes less than a month after the company raised $1.67 billion in one of the largest initial public offerings of the year.

Shares of Bermuda-based Accenture rose 47 cents to $14.52 on the NYSE.