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India's GCC Hiring Grows 4-6% Despite Critical AI, Platform Skill Gaps

Hiring across India's Global Capability Centres grew 4-6% sequentially in the third quarter of FY2026. However, the sector faces acute skill shortages, with a 43% supply gap in AI and Data Analytics roles and a 38% gap in Platform Engineering. Companies are now shifting focus from large-scale recruitment to building deeper, more specialised capabilities in high-demand areas like GenAI and cybersecurity. While Tier-2 cities like Coimbatore and Kochi are gaining traction, they still lack the depth of mid- and senior-level talent found in major hubs.

Key Points: India GCC Hiring Up 4-6% in Q3 Amid AI Skill Shortages

  • GCC hiring grew 4-6% QoQ in Q3 FY26
  • AI & Data roles face 43% supply gap
  • Focus shifts to precision capability over volume hiring
  • Tier-2 cities gain traction as alternative hubs
2 min read

India's GCC hiring grows 4-6 pc sequentially in Q3 despite AI skill gaps: Report

India's Global Capability Centres see steady hiring growth but face severe talent shortages in AI, GenAI, and platform engineering, a new report reveals.

"supply gaps ranging from 18 per cent to 43 per cent... show the urgent need for faster upskilling - Kapil Joshi, Quess IT Staffing"

Bengaluru, Feb 26

Hiring across India's Global Capability Centres grew 4-6 per cent quarter-on-quarter in Q3 FY2026, even as companies face acute skill shortages in high-demand areas such as AI and platform engineering, a new report said on Thursday.

In its 'Quess GCC Talent Trends Q3 FY2026' report, Quess Corp highlighted that India currently has around 1,850-1,900 active GCCs with an expected workforce of nearly 2.5 million professionals.

The report noted that while hiring remains steady, GCCs are now shifting their focus from large-scale recruitment to building deeper and more specialised capabilities.

According to the findings, skill shortages have widened significantly in critical technology areas.

The supply gap has reached as high as 43 per cent in AI, Data and Analytics roles, and 38 per cent in Platform Engineering.

Demand is especially strong for expertise in areas such as GenAI engineering, MLOps pipelines, AI observability, Terraform, Kubernetes, FinOps automation and Zero-Trust cybersecurity.

The report said that mid- to senior-level hiring cycles are particularly affected, with companies struggling to find experienced professionals in emerging technology domains.

At the same time, GCCs are investing more in specialised functions rather than expanding headcount rapidly, marking a clear shift towards "precision over volume".

Kapil Joshi, CEO of Quess IT Staffing, said that supply gaps ranging from 18 per cent to 43 per cent across AI/ML Ops, platform engineering, cybersecurity and GenAI operations show the urgent need for faster upskilling and stronger talent mobility.

He said that as GCCs move from large-scale expansion to capability optimisation, the focus must be on building workforces that can balance innovation, speed and resilience.

The report also pointed out that Tier-2 cities such as Coimbatore, Kochi and Ahmedabad are gaining traction as alternative hubs due to cost advantages.

GCC presence in these cities has grown to around 9-10 per cent. However, the depth of mid- and senior-level talent in Tier-2 cities still lags behind more established Tier-1 markets.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Sarah B
Working in a GCC in Bengaluru, I see this shift to "precision over volume" firsthand. We're not just hiring more people; we're desperately looking for people who can architect complex GenAI solutions. The competition for top talent is insane, and salaries are reflecting that. 🚀
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Priya S
Good to see Tier-2 cities like Coimbatore and Ahmedabad getting a mention. This decentralization is crucial for balanced regional development. However, as the report says, the lack of senior talent there is a real bottleneck. Companies need to invest in building leadership locally, not just importing it from Bangalore or Hyderabad.
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Vikram M
The skill gap numbers are a wake-up call. We produce so many engineers, but are they industry-ready for these new domains like MLOps or Zero-Trust security? There's a massive disconnect. Upskilling programs by companies and govt initiatives like Skill India need to be more aligned with these specific GCC needs.
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Rohit P
While the growth is good, I have a respectful criticism. The report talks about "stronger talent mobility." Often, this just means poaching from other companies with huge salary hikes, which doesn't solve the root supply problem. True mobility should include easier transitions from non-tech backgrounds and better internal training bridges.
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Kavya N
2.5 million professionals in GCCs! That's a huge number. It shows India's central role in global tech operations. The shift to specialized capabilities means job security for those with niche skills. Time to seriously invest in learning Terraform and Kubernetes if you haven't already. 💻

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