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India's GCCs Boast 93% Young Workforce, Driving Innovation Hub Shift

India solidifies its role as the world's leading hub for Global Capability Centres, hosting over half of all global GCCs and employing nearly 2 million professionals. The sector's workforce is overwhelmingly young, with 93% belonging to Gen Z and millennial generations, intensifying competition for talent. GCCs are evolving from back-office functions into strategic innovation centres, with employee experience and workplace culture becoming critical for retention. The ecosystem is projected to grow significantly, expected to comprise over 2,100 centres by 2028 and drive a major portion of the country's commercial real estate demand.

Key Points: India's GCCs: 93% Gen Z & Millennial Workforce | Talent Report

  • 93% GCC workforce is Gen Z/millennial
  • 85% report positive workplace experience
  • GCCs to exceed 2,100 centres by 2028
  • Women form 33% of GCC employees
  • Account for 35-40% of India's office demand
2 min read

93 pc of workforce at India's GCCs is Gen Z and millennial: Report

Report reveals 93% of India's Global Capability Centre workforce is Gen Z & millennial, driving innovation and intensifying the war for talent.

"GCCs are no more IT support centres, but global hubs delivering high-value work across industries. - Balbir Singh"

Mumbai, March 12

As India's GCCs evolve from being identified as back offices to becoming innovation hubs, the workforce remains predominantly young, with 93 per cent of employees belonging to Gen Z and millennial cohorts - intensifying the war for talent and reinforcing the importance of strong workplace culture in attracting and retaining future-ready skills, a report showed on Thursday.

India continues to strengthen its position as the global hub for Global Capability Centres (GCCs), hosting 53 per cent of the world's GCCs and employing more than 1.9 million professionals, according to the report by Great Place To Work India.

GCCs are in-house global centres set up by multinational organisations to drive strategic, operational, and innovation-led work.

The research revealed that 85 per cent of employees working in GCCs report a positive workplace experience, placing the sector close to the broader India Inc. benchmark and underscoring the growing importance of workplace culture as GCCs scale in size and complexity.

India's GCC ecosystem remains highly concentrated, with 94 per cent of centres located across six key cities - Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Pune, and Chennai.

The number of operational GCCs is expected to cross 2,100 by 2028, growing at an estimated compound annual growth rate of 8 per cent through FY2028.

GCCs are also projected to account for nearly 35 to 40 per cent of India's total office space demand this year, reflecting their expanding economic and employment footprint.

"GCCs are no more IT support centres, but global hubs delivering high-value work across industries. GCCs have been creating an equitable workplace compared to the rest of India Inc., but the next steps are to bring them to the forefront of trust, growth, and recognition through decisive, time-bound action," said Balbir Singh, CEO, Great Place To Work India.

Trust levels within GCCs currently stand at 82 per cent, broadly aligned with the Information Technology sector, while trailing industries such as retail, healthcare, and manufacturing.

GCCs continue to outperform much of India Inc. on several critical aspects of the employee experience. Employees consistently cite world-class infrastructure, access to advanced technologies, and flexible work models that support work-life balance as key strengths, said the report.

GCCs also demonstrate a stronger inclusion profile, with women comprising one in three employees, compared to the national average of 26 per cent per cent.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good to see the growth, but the concentration in just 6 cities is a concern. What about tier-2 cities? Developing infrastructure in places like Coimbatore, Indore, or Ahmedabad could ease the pressure on metros and distribute opportunities more evenly.
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Ananya R
The high percentage of Gen Z and millennials means company culture is everything. We value flexibility, purpose, and recognition over just a high salary. GCCs that understand this will win the talent war. The 35% women representation is a positive step, but there's room to grow.
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David E
Working with our GCC in Hyderabad, the talent and innovation coming from the Indian team is world-class. The report is right – it's no longer about cost arbitrage but about strategic capability. The young workforce brings incredible energy and new ideas to the table.
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Karthik V
While the infrastructure and tech are great, the report mentions trust levels are trailing retail and healthcare. That's the real challenge for leadership. Young professionals need to feel psychologically safe to innovate and speak up. That's the next frontier.
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Sneha F
This growth is creating so many opportunities! But with 93% being young, companies must also think about mentorship and knowledge transfer from experienced professionals. A balanced age mix can be beneficial for long-term stability and wisdom.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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