Bengaluru, October 21: If you are a technology professional in India thinking about your next job, chances are you are thinking about a GCC. Global capability centres of multinational companies have emerged as the first choice for Indian tech workers planning their next career move, ahead of homegrown product companies and the traditional IT services giants, according to a new survey released today.
The Talent500 “What Talent Wants 2026” report, based on responses from 2,000 technology, product and data professionals, found that 69% picked a multinational GCC for their next move. Only 37% preferred Indian product companies and 28% chose IT services and outsourcing firms, which were once the default destination for the country’s tech talent.
What makes the finding striking is that it cuts across the industry. Among IT services employees themselves, 64% said a GCC would be their first choice. The number was 72% among product-company employees and 70% among startup workers.
AI experience is the new salary bump
The single biggest draw, beyond career growth, is artificial intelligence. A full 71% of respondents said hands-on AI upskilling mattered to them when choosing an employer. But only 29% said their current employer actually provided it.
“There is a clear gap between what tech professionals want and what they are getting,” the report notes. “Candidates are actively looking for employers that give them real, practical exposure to AI tools and workflows, not just a line on the company website.”
Vikram Ahuja, co-founder of ANSR and CEO of 1Wrk, said GCC hiring was growing at 15 to 18% annually, with roles themselves changing rather than hiring coming to a halt. Talent500 is the talent platform arm of ANSR, which has set up more than 200 GCCs in India.
Show me the career path, or lose me
The survey delivers a blunt message to employers: career growth was the leading factor when evaluating a GCC opportunity, cited by 48% of respondents. The global parent brand came next at 41%, followed by India-centre leadership and culture at 36%, and exposure to AI and technology at 33%. Compensation was cited by just 17%.
And candidates are voting with their feet. Around 87% said clearly defined career paths were very important when evaluating an employer, while 79% said they would abandon an application or decline an offer if growth opportunities were unclear.
Yet most workplaces are falling short. Only 46% of respondents described their current career paths as very clear. Among those already working at GCCs, the figure fell to just 36%, compared with 50% in IT services and 51% in startups.
What this means for Indian tech workers
The results point to a shift in bargaining power. For years, the IT services model absorbed the bulk of India’s engineering graduates. Now, as AI reshapes the kind of work that gets done, experienced professionals are chasing two things: practical AI experience they can put on a resume, and a visible ladder to climb.
For candidates, the advice emerging from the data is straightforward:
- Ask about the AI stack before you join. Which models, tools and workflows will you touch day to day?
- Demand a growth map. If the interviewer cannot describe what the next two roles look like, 79% of your peers would walk away.
- Look beyond the brand name. India-centre leadership and team culture ranked above salary in what professionals value.
FAQs
What is a GCC?
A global capability centre is the India-based technology or operations arm of a multinational company, working directly for the parent rather than for external clients. ANSR has set up over 200 of them, for companies across retail, finance, aviation and technology.
Which survey found GCCs are the top career choice?
Talent500’s What Talent Wants 2026 report, released on October 21, 2026, surveyed 2,000 technology, product and data professionals in India.
How fast is GCC hiring growing in India?
According to ANSR, GCC hiring is growing at 15 to 18% annually, with AI-heavy roles seeing the strongest demand.
Why do tech workers want AI upskilling so badly?
AI is rapidly changing day-to-day engineering work. Professionals want practical, hands-on experience to stay employable, but 71% say they want it while only 29% get it from their current employer.
Is compensation still the top draw?
Surprisingly, no. Only 17% of respondents cited compensation as a key factor when evaluating a GCC, ranking it well below career growth, brand, leadership and AI exposure.
The survey numbers point to a simple truth: in 2026, India’s tech talent is choosing growth and AI experience over brand and pay. Employers that cannot show a clear career path may not just lose the offer, they may never get the application.
