GCCs in India to Add 1.4 Million Jobs by 2031

India’s Global Capability Centres (GCCs) are projected to employ 3.3–3.7 million people by 2031, adding 1–1.4 million net jobs and generating demand for 150–170 million sq. ft. of additional office space, according to a new Embark report

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Titled India GCCs in the AI Era: Implications for Workforce Growth and Office Demand, the report examines how artificial intelligence (AI), changing business mandates and evolving workplace requirements will shape India’s GCC sector over the next five years.

Based on a survey of 100 GCC leaders, executive interviews and market data, the report finds that AI adoption is advancing across GCCs, but measurable productivity gains remain limited. Around 92% of surveyed leaders said their organisations had moved beyond selective AI adoption, while realised productivity gains remained below 15%.

The report also finds that 71% of leaders expect their centres to take on broader functional ownership, while 15% anticipate global leadership roles moving to India. Existing GCCs are expected to account for around 80% of incremental workforce growth.

Key Findings: GCC Jobs and AI Adoption

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• 1–1.4 million net jobs: India’s GCC workforce could grow from approximately 2.3 million to 3.3–3.7 million by 2031.
• 80% of new jobs: Established GCCs are expected to account for around 80% of incremental workforce additions.
• 92% AI adoption: Surveyed GCC leaders have moved beyond selective AI adoption, but realised productivity gains remain below 15%.
• Demand for specialist skills: Hiring demand is expected to increase for AI, data, cybersecurity, platform engineering, solution architecture and governance roles.
• 590–640 new GCCs: India could attract this number of new centres by 2031, according to the report.
• 150–170 million sq. ft. of office demand: GCC expansion is projected to generate substantial additional demand for commercial office space.

AI to Change GCC Hiring and Skills Demand

According to the report, AI-led automation, slower backfilling and role consolidation could moderate demand for routine roles by 0.4–0.5 million. However, expansion of existing centres, new GCC setups and the creation of AI-related roles are expected to offset these reductions.

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Demand is likely to shift towards specialised skills in AI, data, platform engineering, cybersecurity, solution architecture, governance and domain expertise. India’s AI-specialist talent pool could reach 0.8–0.9 million by 2031.

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The report identifies data readiness, workflow redesign, governance and role readiness as key challenges in converting AI adoption into measurable business value.

Established GCCs are expected to remain the main drivers of near-term growth as they take on greater responsibility for entire functions, products, platforms and business outcomes.

India also has scope to attract new GCCs. The report estimates that around 3,144 viable Global 5000 companies have yet to establish an India GCC. Mid-market companies are expected to account for around 28% of new setups, including smaller Nano GCCs employing 5–100 specialists.

GCC Growth to Drive Office Demand

The expansion of GCCs is expected to support continued demand for commercial real estate. Around 90% of new setups are projected to be in Tier 1 cities, with Bengaluru and Hyderabad accounting for 67% of Tier 1 GCC leasing.

Other findings on office demand include:

• BFSI and TMT: These sectors are expected to account for around 54% of incremental GCC office demand.
• Retail and CPG: Office demand in these sectors is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 17–21%.
• More collaboration spaces: The share of collaboration and shared spaces in workplace allocation is projected to rise from 27% to 55% by 2031.
• Demand for specialised offices: Secure, customised facilities are expected to become increasingly important for larger and regulated GCCs.

For real estate developers and landlords, the report points to growing demand for secure, specialised and customised office facilities. Flexible and managed workspaces are expected to remain relevant for smaller GCCs and pilot operations, while larger centres may require dedicated premises.

The findings suggest that AI adoption will change the skills and roles required by GCCs, while deeper business responsibilities and new centre formations are expected to support further employment and office-space growth in India through 2031.