A new PwC India-FICCI report warns that India's Global Capability Centre (GCC) sector could lose nearly 20% of its value by 2030 if talent shortages are not fixed. Currently valued at $98 billion and employing 2.36 million people, the sector is already seeing project delays, with 11% of centers reporting that parent companies are considering moving work abroad.
India’s massive Global Capability Centre (GCC) sector, which serves as a central hub for the global operations of multinational firms, is facing a critical warning about its future competitive standing. A report released on Wednesday by PwC India and FICCI highlights that the industry—valued at approximately $98 billion—could see 19.32% of its total value at risk by 2030 if it fails to bridge the growing gap in employee skills.
The GCC sector has become a major engine for jobs and commercial office demand in India, currently employing 2.36 million professionals across more than 2,100 centers. The report indicates that while the industry is expanding, the lack of qualified talent is creating immediate operational hurdles. Researchers found that solving these skill shortages today could unlock an additional 7.83% in annual revenue for these centers, helping them move beyond basic back-office work into higher-value innovation and research.
Operational Delays and Relocation Risks
The skills shortage is no longer just a future concern; it is impacting operations today. About 59% of GCC leaders reported that they are currently facing delays in launching new products or completing project execution. Furthermore, 54% stated that they cannot scale artificial intelligence and digital transformation efforts because they lack the necessary personnel who understand how to build and manage these technologies.
Perhaps the most concerning data point for the long-term health of the sector is that 11% of GCC leaders confirmed their parent companies are either actively moving or evaluating the transfer of mandates to other countries. This suggests that if India cannot provide the right talent, global corporations may look to shift their investments to other geographies.
The Leadership and Onboarding Gap
The report also sheds light on the management layer, where preparedness for an AI-driven future remains low. The average AI literacy among senior executives is just 27%. Without a leadership team that fully understands how to use AI for business strategy, it becomes harder for these centers to innovate or move up the value chain.
There is also a financial and operational burden on efficiency. A new hire at a GCC currently takes an average of 8.69 months to become fully productive. As global business demands move faster, this long onboarding time places pressure on the sector’s agility and increases the cost of building teams.
What Investors Should Monitor
The industry’s future will depend on how quickly it can adapt to these challenges. Investors and stakeholders should track whether GCCs manage to launch aggressive upskilling programs to reduce the time it takes for new hires to become productive. The key monitorable will be the movement of high-value mandates; if the trend of shifting work to other countries accelerates, it could dampen the growth of the GCC sector, which has been a major pillar for India’s office real estate and service export economy.