5 Key Takeaways
- Over 1,800 Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in India are aggressively competing with traditional IT services firms for tech talent, especially as IT firms slow mid-level hiring.
- GCCs are rapidly expanding, with 120+ new centres in 2024 and a 17% year-on-year workforce growth, creating 180,000 new jobs and projected to reach a $100 billion market by 2030.
- GCCs are increasingly hiring for both senior leadership and entry-level roles, while IT services firms focus mainly on junior-level recruitment and are cutting mid-level positions.
- Demand in GCCs is highest for skills in AI, data science, cybersecurity, cloud architecture, and ESG analytics, with significant hiring in BFSI, e-commerce, manufacturing, healthcare, and renewable energy sectors.
- GCCs are leading India's AI talent push, prioritizing upskilling in generative AI, prompt engineering, and advanced analytics, but only 16% of IT professionals currently possess AI skills.
India’s Tech Job Market is Changing: How GCCs are Shaking Up IT Hiring
If you’ve been following India’s tech industry, you might have noticed a big shift happening. For years, traditional IT services companies like TCS, Infosys, and Wipro have dominated the scene, hiring thousands of engineers and tech professionals. But now, a new player is making waves: Global Capability Centres, or GCCs.
What are GCCs?
GCCs are the Indian arms of global companies—think Google, Amazon, or big banks—set up to handle everything from software development to research and innovation. There are now over 1,800 GCCs in India, and more than 120 new ones opened just in 2024! These centres are no longer just back offices; they’re leading innovation, product development, and digital transformation for their parent companies.
The Talent Tug-of-War
Here’s where it gets interesting: GCCs are on a hiring spree, and they’re competing directly with India’s IT services giants for the same pool of tech talent. According to staffing firm Xpheno, GCCs are expected to have about 14,000 active tech job openings by the end of August, with another 4,000 in non-IT sectors. That’s a big chunk of the 103,000 tech jobs expected to be available.
While IT services firms still have the most openings (about 47,000), they’re mostly hiring junior staff. Mid- and senior-level roles are shrinking, partly because of slower business growth and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), which is automating many tasks. In fact, over the past year, more than 7,700 senior professionals have left the top seven IT services companies.
GCCs, on the other hand, are hiring at all levels—including senior leaders and decision-makers. Their workforce grew by 17% in the last year, creating 180,000 new jobs. Experts predict that GCC hiring will grow by another 18–20% in 2025, adding about 380,000 jobs.
What Skills are in Demand?
GCCs are looking for people skilled in AI, data science, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and full-stack development. There’s a huge demand for mid-level professionals, but there are also opportunities for freshers, especially in automation and product engineering. Tier-II cities are becoming new hotspots for tech hiring.
The AI Push
GCCs are leading the charge in AI innovation. They’re investing in upskilling their teams in areas like generative AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics. However, only about 16% of IT professionals currently have AI skills, so there’s a big push for training and hands-on experience.
The Bottom Line
India’s tech job market is evolving fast. GCCs are not just supporting roles anymore—they’re driving innovation and offering exciting opportunities for tech talent. While traditional IT firms are still important, the future looks bright for those ready to upskill and join the new wave of global tech centres.
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