Over 1800 GCCs vying for talent against India’s IT services sector

Marking a paradigm shift, traditional IT services firms – still the mainstay of India’s technology sector – are gradually ceding ground to a new wave of innovation-driven Global Capability Centres (GCCs).

GCCs, which are evolving beyond their traditional roles and expanding rapidly, are also on a hiring spree as they increasingly lure business away from the giants. This comes at a time when large IT companies are tempering mid-level hiring and streamlining operations.

The rise of GCCs is also reflected in their operational models and talent strategies, which now closely resemble IT services companies in both function and talent acquisition modes. The capabilities and expertise GCCs possess are very similar to those of leading IT services firms. Furthermore, GCCs are actively seeking and recruiting talent with skill sets comparable to those sought after by IT services companies, further solidifying their transition into innovation-driven centres.

Hiring uptick

GCCs are expected to lead tech hiring in the coming months, with an estimated 14,000 active job openings by the end of August, according to data sourced from specialist staffing firm Xpheno. Tech roles in non-IT sectors will add another 4,000 openings, together accounting for roughly 18% of the projected 103,000 tech vacancies.

IT services firms will continue to be the largest recruiters, with 47,000 active openings, albeit for junior-level candidates. Meanwhile, mid- and senior-level professionals at India’s top seven IT services companies are facing increasing pressure due to slowing business growth and the impact of artificial intelligence (AI). As a result, many firms are streamlining operations and cutting back on mid-level roles.

Over the past 12 months, more than 7,700 senior professionals with over 15 years of experience have left these IT services firms (Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Wipro, HCLTech, Tech Mahindra, Cognizant and LTIMindtree), representing roughly 4% of the total senior talent pool.

In contrast, GCCs are showing an uptick in the number of senior leadership and decision-makers, alongside entry-level hiring. India currently hosts over 1,800 GCCs, with over 120 new centres established in 2024, marking a 17% year-on-year workforce growth and the creation of 180,000 new jobs. Nasscom projects the GCC market to reach $100 billion by 2030, noting its increasing focus on strategic roles, innovation, product development, and digital transformation.

Xpheno's Co-founder, Anil Ethanur, noted that GCCs are expected to absorb an increasing share of tech talent, fuelled by new and expanding centres.  
“Since FY22, IT services added 350,000 employees, while GCCs added 320,000. However, considering the initial talent base, GCCs have demonstrated a higher growth rate. Headcount in IT services increased from 2.2 million to 2.55 million, compared to GCC growth from 1.45 million to 1.77 million,” he said.

The top IT services firms added over 170,000 employees. GCCs and consulting firms collectively onboarded nearly 500,000, surpassing the net growth of IT services during this period.
Staffing firm NLB Services’ CEO, Sachin Alug, also observes that GCCs and non-IT companies are absorbing talent. GCC hiring in India is projected to grow by 18–20% in 2025, creating about 380,000 jobs. AI engineering, data science, cybersecurity, cloud architecture, and ESG analytics are in high demand, the staffing firm noted.

Tech hiring in GCCs is driven by the BFSI, e-commerce, manufacturing, healthcare, and renewable energy sectors. The greatest demand is for AI, cloud, data science, full-stack development, and cybersecurity roles. Mid-level talent is highly valued, while junior professionals find opportunities in automation and product engineering, with Tier-II cities emerging as key hiring locations.That said, the hiring outlook for the year is positive, particularly in the GCC and consulting sectors, believe experts.

AI push for GCCs

Indian GCCs are further leading the global AI talent push by fostering innovation and driving high-value AI projects. In terms of skill sets, these entities are prioritising AI/ML, cloud, cybersecurity, data science, and full-stack development, seeking skills in Python, Java, and cloud platforms. Upskilling initiatives focus on generative AI, prompt engineering, and advanced analytics, mainly targeting mid-level professionals.

Nasscom projects AI job demand to exceed 1 million by 2026, while only 16% of IT professionals possess AI skills, largely due to a lack of hands-on experience with GenAI and MLOps.
While the scenario remains precarious, some developments are already underway. GenAI training is rising across GCCs to improve customer experience and ROI.

In a recent interview with TechCircle, Ritesh Malhotra, Enterprise Head at Great Learning, a professional digital and tech learning platform, said these organisations are seeking GenAI programmes for digital transformation, seeking hands-on models with AI labs for real-time problem solving.  
“GCCs are training staff and offering programmes for AI implementation in finance, supply chain, and customer support. Those, particularly in finance, invest in AI leadership and GenAI training for AI engineers, data scientists, and solution architects,” he noted.

All said, India’s tech future is being reimagined by GCCs but at the cost of legacy firms.

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