The GCC Shift: India’s New Tech Jobs Hub

The Indian technology sector is undergoing significant changes, driven by the growth of Global Capability Centres (GCCs). These offshore units have become the primary drivers of new tech jobs, outpacing their traditional IT services counterparts in hiring numbers. According to PwC’s report on GCCs, they have transitioned from providing transactional back-office support to taking on more strategic roles.

The numbers are striking: GCCs have added around 2 lakh net employees in FY26, compared to roughly 1.1 lakh in IT services. This trend is set to continue, with experts predicting that GCCs will add around 4-6 lakh professionals over the next two to three years. GCCs’ ability to adapt to the changing needs of multinational companies has driven this shift.

Specialized talent is in high demand, particularly those who can develop AI models and engineer data foundations. This requires a unique combination of technical expertise, business acumen, and problem-solving skills – areas where GCCs are increasingly looking for fresh talent. In fact, GCCs are not only hiring at scale but also paying a premium for specialized skills.

Fresher hires in GCCs can expect around Rs 5.5 lakh CTC, compared to Rs 4.5 lakh in traditional IT services firms. However, the bigger shift is in the quality of demand: GCCs are increasingly seeking specialized talent that can own products and work closely with global business teams. According to Kamal Karanth of Xpheno, active openings in GCCs have been ranging between 17,000-18,000 over the last four months.

Engineering and IT functions continue to dominate hiring action, accounting for nearly 55% of current active openings. As Anuradha Mohanty of Aon notes, “What we’re seeing is that GCCs and traditional IT services firms are responding to the same macro forces, but arriving at very different talent strategies.” This divergence will have significant consequences for those seeking employment in the Indian tech sector.

The future of work in India remains uncertain. Will we see a continued shift towards specialization, with GCCs driving innovation and growth? Or will traditional IT services firms find ways to adapt and compete? The answer lies in the numbers, but also in the changing nature of work itself. As AI becomes increasingly integral to business operations, those who can combine technical expertise with business acumen will be the ones leading the charge.

The GCC shift is a harbinger of this new reality – one that promises to upend traditional notions of employment and talent acquisition. The Indian tech sector is undergoing significant changes, driven by the growth of Global Capability Centres (GCCs). These offshore units have become the primary drivers of new tech jobs, outpacing their traditional IT services counterparts in hiring numbers.

GCCs’ ability to adapt to the changing needs of multinational companies has driven this shift. According to PwC’s report on GCCs, they have transitioned from providing transactional back-office support to taking on more strategic roles. The demand for specialized talent is driving this shift, particularly those who can develop AI models and engineer data foundations.

This requires a unique combination of technical expertise, business acumen, and problem-solving skills – areas where GCCs are increasingly looking for fresh talent. In fact, GCCs are not only hiring at scale but also paying a premium for specialized skills. Fresher hires in GCCs can expect around Rs 5.5 lakh CTC, compared to Rs 4.5 lakh in traditional IT services firms.

The bigger shift is in the quality of demand: GCCs are increasingly seeking specialized talent that can own products and work closely with global business teams. According to Kamal Karanth of Xpheno, active openings in GCCs have been ranging between 17,000-18,000 over the last four months. Engineering and IT functions continue to dominate hiring action, accounting for nearly 55% of current active openings.

As Anuradha Mohanty of Aon notes, “What we’re seeing is that GCCs and traditional IT services firms are responding to the same macro forces, but arriving at very different talent strategies.” This divergence will have significant consequences for those seeking employment in the Indian tech sector. The future of work in India remains uncertain.

Will we see a continued shift towards specialization, with GCCs driving innovation and growth? Or will traditional IT services firms find ways to adapt and compete? The answer lies in the numbers, but also in the changing nature of work itself. As AI becomes increasingly integral to business operations, those who can combine technical expertise with business acumen will be the ones leading the charge.

The GCC shift is a harbinger of this new reality – one that promises to upend traditional notions of employment and talent acquisition.