Strategy and human resources experts were the hardest hit by the fall in demand for consulting services last year, and annual growth in the sector is forecast to fall to its lowest level since 2015, barring the short-lived COVID-19 slump.

The Australian consulting market recorded growth of 5 per cent to $US6.1 billion ($9.2 billion) last year and this could drop to 4 per cent ($US6.4 billion) this year, according to Source Global Research, a UK-based firm that advises the sector.