Tier-2 Cities Lead GCCs Hiring Growth, But Talent Gaps Remain
After a muted Q4 FY25, India’s Global Capability Centres (GCCs) have bounced back with an 8–10% increase in hiring volumes in Q1 FY26, signaling a strategic pivot from mass recruitment to skill-focused hiring.
According to a report by Quess Corp, the rebound reflects a deliberate move by organizations to prioritize high-value roles in AI, platform engineering, cybersecurity, and cloud infrastructure, amid growing digital transformation mandates.
This marks a departure from traditional volume hiring, as companies now seek talent that can drive innovation, operational efficiency, and long-term business value.
Sectoral Trends: BFSI, Manufacturing, and Tech Lead the Charge
Hiring momentum was strongest in high-growth verticals, including:
- Manufacturing, Automotive & Energy: Registered a 31% QoQ growth, driven by investments in smart factories, Industrial IoT, and EV platforms
- BFSI (Banking, Financial Services & Insurance): Maintained its position as the largest hirer, accounting for 20% of total GCC market share, with 15% QoQ growth fueled by AI-led credit risk analysis, digital lending, and cybersecurity
- Technology & Hardware: Logged a 16% QoQ increase, reflecting demand for platform modernization and product engineering
Conversely, sectors sensitive to global headwinds—such as Hospitality, Travel & Logistics and Construction & Engineering—saw hiring declines of 25% and 15% respectively.
Location Dynamics: Tier-2 Cities Surge, But Talent Gaps Persist
While Tier-1 cities like Bengaluru, Pune, and Chennai continued to dominate hiring volumes, Tier-2 cities emerged as high-growth spokes:
- Coimbatore: +34.1% QoQ
- Kochi: +27.6% QoQ
- Ahmedabad: +24.6% QoQ
Despite this surge, Tier-2 cities face acute talent shortages in advanced roles like GenAI engineering, full-stack DevOps, and L3+ cybersecurity.
Up to 50% of complex mandates are being redirected to Tier-1 hubs, where talent density, peer networks, and marquee projects remain magnets for senior professionals.
GCCs Talent Shortages and Salary Trends
The report highlights a 25–40% talent shortfall in domains such as AI, data science, and platform engineering, which is slowing down hiring cycles and impacting project delivery timelines.
Bengaluru remains the highest-paying market, with top offers for niche skills exceeding ₹50–60 lakh, reflecting deeper talent pools and greater role maturity.
Expert Commentary on GCCs Hiring: Quality Over Quantity
Kapil Joshi, CEO of Quess IT Staffing, noted: “These roles are no longer support functions—they’re central to digital transformation.”
He added, “Organizations are hiring selectively for skills that drive innovation and long-term value.”
The shift underscores a broader industry trend: building lean, high-performance teams rather than scaling headcount indiscriminately.
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