- 11% of the total increase expected in 2026 itself
- 34% of GCCs expect their workforce to increase by 20%
- 0.715 Mn net new GCC jobs will land in Tier-2/3 cities by 2030
Global technology and digital talent solutions provider, NLB Services, has today unveiled its report “Workforce 2.0 Reset – India’s GCCs Go AI-Native”, highlighting in-depth insights on emerging technology reshaping India’s Global Capability Center (GCC) landscape, thereby bringing a paradigm workforce shift. With more than 58% GCCs moving beyond AI pilots, the workforce is projected to reach 3.46 million by 2030, adding 1.3 million new job roles. The report also estimates a significant impact in 2026 itself, indicating an 11% increase in jobs, thereby expanding personnel to 2.4 million in the sector.
In 2025, nearly 70% of GCCs are already investing in Generative AI (GenAI), while over 60% will set up dedicated AI safety and governance teams by 2026. A remarkable 75% aim to embed GenAI in daily operations within the next year. These investments are not only driving efficiency but also reconfiguring roles. For instance, 27% of mid-level and 25% of junior tech roles are being redesigned as AI copilots and automation tools become mainstream.
Sharing his perspective on the report, Mr. Sachin Alug, CEO, NLB Services, said, “India is at a critical intersection in its GCC 4.0 journey, building a unique & unmatched synergy of scale, skill and talent. Today, GCCs are no longer just exploring AI – rather, many have or are moving towards deployment. While AI thrust in this sector was expected, this year has seen a stronger drive for implementation. This cements India’s move from delivery centers to AI-driven enterprises, marking a leap in innovation and governance. All of this has certainly brought new layers to the talent take-off we predicted at the onset of the year. GCC workforce projection by 2030, indicated earlier, is now set to see a 30% surge, adding 1.3 million new jobs.”
As AI becomes mainstream, entirely new roles are emerging across GCCs, including Cybersecurity & AI Governance Architects (29%), Prompt Engineers (26%), GenAI Product Owners (22%), and AI Policy & risk strategists (21%), symbolizing India’s shift from execution to accountability and innovation-led leadership. Simultaneously, legacy roles such as L1 IT Support (75%), Legacy Application Development (74%), Manual QA (72%), and On-Prem Infrastructure Management (67%) are being phased out as GCCs modernize towards AI-native, product-oriented teams.
With AI deployment further maturing, India’s GCC map is undergoing a major geographic shift, with Tier II and III gaining prominence. GCCs are inclining towards these belts to capitalize on the proposition of 10–12% lower attrition rates, 30–50% lower office costs, and 20–35% talent cost advantages compared to Tier-1 metros.
Sharing his thoughts, Mr. Varun Sachdeva, SVP & APAC Head, NLB Services, said, “By 2030, nearly 39% of the GCC workforce will operate from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, enabling our shift from metro-focused to a more distributed workforce model. While Tier-1 cities will continue to serve as centers for leadership, governance, and R&D, emerging Tier-2 and Tier-3 hubs such as Coimbatore, Ahmedabad, and Bhubaneswar are rapidly becoming specialized delivery centers. The new synergy across Tier II/III cities will create 0.715 M net new GCC jobs by 2030.”
As GCCs adopt AI at scale, continuous learning and capability development have become organizational imperatives. “While AI is changing the way work is done, it is not replacing people, rather amplifying human judgment and expertise with technology integration. To enable the workforce to adapt to this workforce reset, 80% of GCCs are already funding continuous learning and internal mobility programs, enabling faster, flatter, and more agile decision cycles. The top upskilling models are focused on role-specific reskilling journeys or micro-credentials (18%), corporate academies and focused programs (17%), and embedding AI skills into career frameworks (16%). Moreover, 38% of GCCs are also closing GenAI skill gaps by hiring external talent, while 22% are building in-house academies”, added Mr. Abhilash Raghavan, Chief Business Officer – GCC Vertical, NLB Services.
India’s GCC ecosystem has also reached a defining point — where leadership readiness for AI is now the true differentiator. Hyderabad and Bengaluru lead this shift, with 70% and 69% of GCCs showing strong AI leadership maturity in both vision and budget ownership. These hubs aren’t just adopters but are instead shaping the global playbook for scaling AI. This leadership momentum is mirrored across industries where AI has become central to competitiveness. Telecom & Internet Services (70%) and BFSI & Fintech (69%) lead in strategic clarity, while Software & Consulting (65%) and Media & Gaming (67%) show robust budget commitment. Together, they mark a decisive shift — India’s digital-first enterprises aren’t experimenting with AI anymore; they’re institutionalizing it as a leadership and governance discipline.
“Workforce 2.0 Reset – India’s GCC Go AI-Native” report also signals that AI governance is rapidly institutionalizing across India’s GCCs. 33% have established central AI committees or CoEs, while 29% manage oversight through business units under audit and compliance frameworks. Delhi/NCR (39%) and Bengaluru (37%) lead with centralized governance models, reflecting higher maturity, while Hyderabad (35%) and Mumbai (34%) favor decentralized oversight, signaling a growing push for flexibility and autonomy.
Progressive state policies are accelerating India’s GCC expansion, driven by strong digital infrastructure, talent pipelines, and AI-focused incentives. These frameworks, reinforced by rising STEM talent in non-metro cities, are transforming regional hubs into future-ready innovation corridors. As GCCs move from pilots to full-scale AI-driven operations, the next five years will cement India’s position as the global hub for AI engineering, analytics, and governance excellence — showcasing a model that blends innovation, talent, and responsible growth.
