GCC hiring in India has accelerated sharply, with Global Capability Centres expanding their tech workforce far faster than IT services firms. The shift, reported in January 2026 using staffing data, reflects multinational companies building in-house teams across Indian cities, reshaping where technology jobs now originate.
What changed in GCC hiring trends
GCCs are adding technology professionals at an annual rate of 18–27%. In contrast, IT services companies are growing headcount by 4–6%. TeamLease Digital data cited by ET shows the hiring gap has crossed 20 percentage points.
GCCs now employ close to 2 million workers. That figure stood at 1.2 million in 2022. Each year, GCCs create nearly 300,000 jobs, while IT services add only 25,000–40,000 net roles.
How GCC operations are reshaping work
GCC expansion reflects a structural shift. Multinational firms are moving critical technology work in-house. These functions once supported outsourcing-led IT services.
GCC teams focus on AI, cloud engineering, cybersecurity, and product development. According to TeamLease Digital CEO Neeti Sharma, these roles demand deeper domain expertise. As a result, GCCs operate as execution and innovation centres rather than support units.
Impact on India’s tech workforce
The hiring gap is changing career pathways for engineers. In FY24 and FY25, GCCs generated over 100,000 of India’s 120,000 new tech jobs. IT services contributed a small share during the same period.
This year, more than 90 new GCCs opened in India. Over 150 existing centres expanded operations. ANSR cofounder Vikram Ahuja said this created about 160,000 new GCC jobs in FY25, with FY26 expected to cross 200,000 roles.
Meanwhile, India’s top five IT services firms added about 11,000 net employees in the first nine months of FY25. TCS plans to cut around 2% of its workforce, affecting over 12,000 jobs globally.
Pay, skills, and recruitment patterns
Salary data highlights the shift. GCCs offer 15–25% higher pay for standard engineering roles. For AI and advanced ML positions, premiums reach 30–40%. Offer acceptance rates at GCCs range from 60–70%.
GCCs are also expanding graduate hiring and moving into smaller cities. IT services firms remain focused on optimisation. Quess Corp CEO Kapil Joshi said GCCs now drive most tech hiring in India.
