Archive · 15 Aug 2026
Talent gaps put India GCC mandates at risk: PwC-FICCI study
This story is about jobs and work in India.
Many big companies from other countries set up special offices there called global capability centres, or GCCs, that do important technology and digital work.
A new study asked 200 leaders who run these offices what is happening.
The study found that there are not enough skilled workers in India.
Because of that, many product launches and projects are getting delayed.
Some companies are even thinking about moving their work to other countries.
The study says companies need to spend more money on training their workers.
Right now, companies spend about 3 per cent of their operating budget on talent, and the report says they may need to double that to at least 6 per cent.
With better training and more skilled workers, India can stay a leader in this kind of work.
Eleven per cent of GCC leaders say their global headquarters are evaluating or shifting mandates to competing geographies due to talent shortages.
Fifty-nine per cent of GCCs reported delays in product launches, project timelines or go-to-market plans.
Fifty-four per cent said talent gaps were limiting their ability to scale AI and digital transformation programmes.
Talent investment budgets, currently around 3 per cent of operating budgets, may need to double to at least 6 per cent for the AI era.
More than 85 per cent of GCCs expect their operating mandates to expand by 2030, with one in five targeting global profit-and-loss responsibility.
- Who
- PwC India and FICCI conducted the study, surveying 200 senior GCC executives across eight industries.
- What
- A PwC India-FICCI study finds talent shortages are putting India's global capability centre (GCC) mandates at risk.
- When
- The report was published on August 15, 2026.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- Skill shortages are causing project delays, higher vendor costs, attrition and wage inflation, prompting some headquarters to weigh shifting mandates to competing geographies.
- Study authors
- PwC India and FICCI
- Survey respondents
- 200 senior GCC executives across eight industries
- GCCs with mandates at risk
- 11 per cent evaluating or shifting mandates to competing geographies
- GCCs reporting delays
- 59 per cent (product launches, timelines, go-to-market plans)
- GCCs limited in scaling AI
- 54 per cent
- Current talent investment
- Around 3 per cent of operating budgets
- Required talent investment
- At least 6 per cent of operating budgets, per 94 per cent of leaders
- Publication date
- August 15, 2026