GCC Hiring Zooms Ahead of IT: What the Latest Trends Reveal

India’s global talent landscape is undergoing a major shift. As 2025 unfolds, Global Capability Centres (GCCs) are outpacing traditional IT services firms in hiring, signaling a transformation in how multinational companies are building strategic teams in India.

Summary: By 2030, GCCs in India are expected to create 400,000 new jobs, fueled by AI adoption, Tier 2 city expansion, and a stronger focus on diversity and sustainability. This blog examines the latest GCC hiring trends in India 2025, showing why capability centres are shaping the future of global business more than traditional IT services.

GCCs Are Redefining the Talent Landscape

According to FirstMeridian Business Services, GCCs are set to add 4 lakh jobs for freshers by 2030. This surge is being driven by digital adoption, advanced analytics, and a shift in how companies view global operations. Unlike IT services firms, which are experiencing slowed hiring, GCCs are on an aggressive growth trajectory.

Key drivers fueling this growth include:

• Diverse Talent Pools: With Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities opening up, India offers access to previously untapped talent markets.
  
• Digital Literacy: Public-private initiatives are rapidly building AI, ML, and data engineering skills.
  
• Innovation + Cost Efficiency: GCCs are now positioned as innovation engines, not just cost centres.
  

Companies working with partners like Ralent to establish capability centres in India are able to build teams aligned with innovation while optimizing costs.

The DEI Advantage in GCCs

A defining feature of India’s GCC hiring boom is its emphasis on diversity and inclusion. Women now comprise 40% of India’s GCC workforce, and projections show steady growth in gender diversity over the next five years.

Unlike traditional IT firms, which struggle with diversity at senior levels, GCCs are embedding DEI into their core strategies. Diversity is no longer just a compliance requirement—it is becoming a lever for innovation and long-term performance.

This approach resonates with global companies committed to building resilient and future-ready workforces. Ralent’s Employer of Record (EOR) services help ensure inclusive hiring practices, while also handling compliance with Indian labor laws.

Remote Work and the GCC Ecosystem

In response to widening talent gaps, 40% of IT services firms are shifting to remote and hybrid work models to access Tier 2 city talent. While necessary, this approach raises questions: Can remote work alone match the engagement and innovation potential of physical GCCs?

GCCs are investing in on-ground ecosystems: building campuses, launching training programs, and supporting local communities. These investments help foster loyalty and culture-building in ways that remote models often struggle to replicate.

Sustainability and Green Skills Integration

Another defining trend is the rise of sustainability in GCC operations. Increasingly, capability centres are embedding Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into their hiring and operations.

Key developments include:

• The emergence of new roles such as ESG Accounting Managers and Green Finance Specialists.
  
• Employee-led sustainability initiatives and skilling programs.
  

By aligning with ESG goals, GCCs are appealing to younger, environmentally conscious professionals and strengthening their brand reputation.

AI-Driven Talent Transformation

Artificial Intelligence is also reshaping hiring and workforce management in GCCs:

• AI in Recruitment: Moving beyond credentials to skills-first hiring.
  
• Evolution of Roles: Creation of emerging positions like Generative AI Architects and Emotional AI Specialists.
  
• Employee Experience: AI-powered career development platforms that personalize growth pathways.
  

These innovations ensure that GCCs remain ahead of the curve in both hiring and retention.

What This Means for Talent Strategy in India

The momentum behind GCCs is undeniable. Companies entering or scaling in India must rethink their hiring strategies to remain competitive. This includes:

• Investing in AI and ML skill development
  
• Expanding beyond metros into Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities
  
• Embedding DEI at the foundation of GCC operations
  
• Blending hybrid work with physical presence for engagement
  

Our insights on Navigating GCC Compliance in 2025 provide guidance on staying ahead of regulations, while Beyond Bengaluru: India’s Next GCC Cities 2025–2026 highlights where to expand next.

The Ralent Advantage

At Ralent, we specialize in helping U.S. startups and SMBs establish GCCs in India that go beyond cost savings. From talent acquisition and compliance to diversity integration and AI-driven recruitment, we build centres that operate as true extensions of your business. Our capability centre services and Employer of Record solutions ensure you can scale quickly, compliantly, and strategically.

By partnering with Ralent, you gain access to India’s fastest-growing workforce trends—transforming your talent strategy into a long-term competitive advantage.