India GCC non-tech hiring to top 500,000 by 2028

India’s global capability centres (GCCs) are on track to generate more than 500,000 non-technical roles by 2028 as firms expand finance, sales and operations functions alongside traditional technology delivery. Demand for non-tech roles rose 17.2% year‑on‑year in the first half of 2026, with mid‑level professionals — those with seven to 12 years’ experience — accounting for nearly 60% of hiring, according to a Social News XYZ report published by Quess Corp.

"By 2028, the centres that lead won't be the ones with the largest headcount, but the ones that have fused domain expertise with artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled decision-making across every function," said Kapil Joshi, CEO of IT Staffing at Quess Corp.

Quess Corp’s analysis finds the profile of GCC hiring shifting from pure IT delivery to domain specialists in governance, analytics, compliance and business transformation. A three‑year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21% for mid‑level non‑tech roles projects an estimated 250,000 such workers in 2026 alone. Sector‑wise, pharma and healthcare GCCs led non‑tech hiring demand, followed by banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), and technology and product companies — driven by growing requirements for governance, analytics and compliance capabilities.

• Non‑tech GCC demand up 17.2% YoY in H1 2026
• Mid‑level professionals (7–12 years’ experience) made up nearly 60% of demand
• Bengaluru accounted for 25% of non‑tech GCC hiring demand; Tier‑II cities collectively drew 35%
• Mid‑level non‑tech roles projected at ~250,000 in 2026 with a 3‑year CAGR of 21%

Geographic diversification is already evident. Bengaluru drew 25% of non‑tech GCC hiring demand while Tier‑II cities together attracted 35%, reflecting an active strategy among GCC operators to manage wage pressure in primary markets and tap broader talent pools. Quess notes that India’s structural supply in business operations, healthcare administration and financial services underpins the path toward the 500,000 non‑tech threshold — provided mid‑level hiring continues to be accessible outside Bengaluru.

The report highlights an evolution in GCC operating models: many are shifting from cost‑centre IT delivery outfits into multi‑function capability hubs with sector‑specific mandates that blur lines between third‑party outsourcing and captive centre delivery. That dynamic is producing shared competition for mid‑level domain specialists across BPO and GCC models, complicating capacity planning for buyers building finance, analytics or operations teams in India.

"The BPO industry has historically been resilient during crises," said Derek Gallimore, founder of an outsourcing advisory and marketplace. "Outsourcing is fundamentally countercyclical. The industry can do well in recessions and depressions," underscoring why enterprise buyers continue to treat India as a strategic delivery location even as talent mixes shift.

For companies planning multi‑year arrangements, Quess warns that Tier‑II expansion alleviates some supply constraints but that availability of mid‑level talent should be treated as a delivery risk rather than a background assumption. The implication for hiring and sourcing strategies is clear: GCCs that combine domain expertise with AI‑enabled decisioning and a diversified geographic footprint will be best placed to capture the next wave of non‑tech hiring through 2028.