As the IT services sector faces AI-driven disruptions, hiring recalibrations and onboarding delays, many technology professionals in India are exploring new career paths that promise greater stability and innovation. A growing number of candidates are now turning to Global Capability Centres (GCCs) as an alternative to traditional IT services roles.
Global Capability Centres have become a major force in India’s technology landscape. The country is currently the world’s largest GCC hub, hosting 1,850+ centres that employ nearly 2 million professionals. Together, the sector generates around $64-65 billion in annual revenue.
Hiring within GCCs has expanded rapidly. According to Sanketh Chengappa, Director and Business Head, Professional Staffing at Adecco India, recruitment in GCCs is growing at nearly 4x the rate of IT services firms.
Recent workforce adjustments and onboarding delays in parts of the IT services industry have also influenced candidate preferences. As a result, many professionals now see GCCs as a pathway to stable, technology-focused careers. Their direct integration with multinational parent organisations and focus on building in-house technology capabilities are viewed as factors that offer stronger long-term stability.
Many roles in GCCs are linked to long-term product development, innovation initiatives and enterprise platforms. This creates a sense of continuity compared with project-based delivery models typically seen in IT services. Opportunities to work in areas such as AI, digital platforms and global technology mandates have also made GCCs appealing to professionals looking to develop specialised and future-ready skills.
“GCCs are outcompeting primarily on the nature of work itself. Candidates moving from IT services to GCCs are moving from execution to ownership, working on core technology initiatives that directly power the parent company’s global operations rather than delivering against a client-defined scope. This distinction is sharpest in product engineering, where GCCs offer depth that a services engagement structurally cannot,” said Neelabh Shukla, Chief Business Officer at Careernet.
In key roles such as software development, engineering, data management and analytics, and product management, compensation offered by GCCs at entry, mid and senior levels often surpasses that of traditional IT services companies. According to Aditya Narayan Mishra, MD and CEO of CIEL HR, salaries in GCCs working on advanced technologies like Generative AI, AI/ML, data analytics, cybersecurity and cloud computing are typically 12-20% higher than those in IT services firms.
The appeal of GCCs spans across experience levels. Graduates are attracted by opportunities to work on real AI, cloud and data challenges while gaining exposure to global operations. Mid-to-senior professionals are drawn to deeper product ownership, closer access to stakeholders and often better compensation.
Research by CIEL shows that the GCC workforce largely consists of professionals with 6-15 years of experience, who make up about 51% of employees. As a result, fresher hiring remains a relatively small share of the overall workforce mix.
Experts note that IT services companies still attract professionals seeking multi-client exposure, wider industry experience and onsite opportunities. However, many experienced professionals, particularly those with 6-15 years of experience, are increasingly moving toward GCCs to work closer to product innovation, global technology strategy and long-term product roadmaps while gaining deeper expertise in emerging technologies.
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