GCCs Are Hiring Big in India. Do You Have the Right Skills?

India’s hiring market is changing. Global Capability Centres (GCCs) are hiring faster than traditional IT services firms, AI-related skills are becoming important for new roles, and freshers are gaining a larger share of recruitment.

Employers increasingly want candidates who can apply relevant skills to real tasks.

GCCs Are Hiring More Than IT Services Firms

The report highlights a clear gap between GCC and IT services hiring. GCCs added nearly 200,000 net employees in fiscal 2026, compared with around 110,000 hires by IT services firms. It also records 227,991 hires in the first six months of 2026, an 11% year-on-year increase.

A Global Capability Centre is an office set up by a multinational company to carry out work for its global operations. These centres handle functions that can include technology, data and engineering.

As their responsibilities expand, they need employees with specialised skills. GCCs are becoming an important employment option alongside traditional IT companies.

AI Skills Are Becoming a Hiring Filter

According to the report, two in three new GCC roles in 2026 require skills in AI, data science or intelligent automation. Employers increasingly want people who can work with data and use technology to improve tasks and processes.

The required skill depends on the job; not every applicant needs to become an AI engineer.

The five skill areas highlighted are

• AI and machine learning
• Cloud computing
• Data engineering
• Cybersecurity
• Embedded systems

Together, these areas cover software, digital infrastructure, data protection and hardware-linked technology. Candidates should focus on skills that match the career they want, rather than trying to learn everything at once.

Freshers Are Finding a Larger Place in GCC Hiring

Candidates with zero to three years of experience account for 30% of GCC hiring, according to the report. This segment recorded 18% year-on-year growth, making it the fastest-growing experience group highlighted.

The report also points to targeted hiring in Generative AI, platform engineering, data security and core engineering, alongside a strong focus on campus recruitment.

This creates more entry points for graduates, but competition remains: applicants must demonstrate what they can do, not just what they have studied.

Internships, relevant projects and the ability to explain practical work can help fresh graduates show that they are ready for a role.

GCC Hiring Is Spreading Beyond Major Cities

Bengaluru accounts for 30% of GCC hiring in the report. At the same time, Tier-2 cities recorded 23% year-on-year growth.

This matters because corporate opportunities have often been associated with moving to a large technology hub. Growth in smaller cities could widen the locations where candidates can search for work. The figures do not show Tier-2 cities overtaking Bengaluru; they indicate that hiring is expanding beyond established centres.

A Resume Needs Evidence, Not Just AI Keywords

The report’s final message is simple: do not just write “AI” on a resume; show a project. A project gives employers something concrete to assess. It can demonstrate how a candidate approaches a problem, chooses tools and explains the result.

A candidate interested in data could present a simple analysis project. Someone exploring AI could build a small working application. The project need not be complicated; it should be genuine, relevant to the role and something the candidate can confidently discuss.

What These Trends Mean for Job Seekers

The report points to three connected changes: GCCs are expanding, specialised technology skills are shaping recruitment, and hiring is reaching more experience groups and locations.

Candidates can respond by

• Choosing one or two skills relevant to their target role.
• Building a practical project to demonstrate those skills.
• Exploring GCC openings as well as traditional IT services roles.
• Searching beyond major metros, including Tier-2 cities.

India’s hiring market is not just about how many jobs are available. It is also about where companies are hiring and what candidates must demonstrate to be considered. For job seekers, the strongest next step is to match learning with practical work—and make that work visible.