CPA firms are cutting jobs while raising wages at the same time.
Total employment in accounting and tax services dropped by 9,200 jobs in the past year, but average hourly pay jumped 6.1% to $43.88.
The biggest cuts hit entry-level staff as AI and offshore teams in India now handle basic bookkeeping, reconciliations, and tax prep work.
This looks like a permanent shift, not a temporary adjustment.
Firms are paying more for skilled professionals while eliminating lower-tier roles through automation.
But there's a concerning downside: fewer junior roles means a shrinking talent pipeline for future CPAs.
Read the full analysis: https://cpatrendlines.com/2025/07/14/higher-wages-fewer-jobs-a-new-era-for-cpa-staffing/
