India’s Global Capability Centres (GCCs) are intensifying recruitment for professionals skilled in artificial intelligence, data management, and cybersecurity, with these specialized roles comprising over 30% of tech hiring demand in Q2 FY27. However, sizable talent shortages challenge this growth, particularly in AI and cybersecurity domains.
- AI, data, and cybersecurity represent 30.3% of GCC tech hiring demand in Q2 FY27.
- Estimated 38-42% shortage in AI/data roles and 30-35% gap in cybersecurity skills.
- Tier 1 cities lead hiring, but Coimbatore shows strong 30% quarter-on-quarter growth.
What happened
In the July-September quarter of 2026, India’s GCCs significantly increased hiring for technology roles specializing in artificial intelligence, data, and cybersecurity. These advanced skill sets accounted for 30.3% of all technology recruitment within GCCs across India, marking a 4.5 percentage point rise from the previous quarter. This trend reflects a strategic shift in talent acquisition priorities as companies pursue digital transformation and enhanced enterprise security.
The report by Quess Corp highlights that despite the surge in demand, there remain notable supply shortages in these critical areas. It estimates a 38-42% gap in the availability of AI, data, and analytics professionals and a 30-35% shortfall in cybersecurity and risk management expertise. Recruitment remains predominantly focused in tier 1 cities, although tier 2 locations like Coimbatore demonstrated impressive growth, suggesting a slow geographic diversification of the tech talent pool.
Why it matters
These hiring patterns underscore the increasing importance of AI, data analytics, and cybersecurity within India’s GCC sector, which serves as a backbone for many multinational enterprise technology operations. As digital capabilities expand, bridging these talent gaps is critical to maintaining competitive advantage and safeguarding enterprise IT infrastructure.
The pronounced supply shortages present both a challenge and opportunity—businesses need to invest not only in external hiring but also in upskilling and reskilling existing employees. The report points to career pathway development and role transitions, such as data scientists moving into AI operations and cybersecurity analysts adapting to cloud security, as viable strategies to mitigate shortages while sustaining growth in advanced tech capabilities.
What to watch next
Going forward, the continued expansion of GCCs outside traditional tier 1 hubs will be important to monitor. Coimbatore's 30% quarterly growth in tech hiring indicates that tier 2 cities could emerge as key contributors to India’s tech talent ecosystem, potentially easing pressure on metropolitan talent pools and offering companies more diverse recruitment options.
Additionally, the effectiveness of structured reskilling programs and internal transitions in addressing skill gaps will be a critical factor. Companies that successfully leverage these pathways may achieve more sustainable talent acquisition and retention in AI, data, and cybersecurity roles. Tracking how these trends evolve will provide insights into India’s readiness to support increasingly sophisticated digital infrastructure at scale.