Talent retention emerges as top challenge for 51% of India’s GCCs, highlights report
51 per cent of India’s Global Capability Centres (GCCs) cite talent retention as their top challenge according to a recent study by CIEL HR.
The study which analysed 76,000 executive profiles, also highlighted that 52 per cent of the GCC workforce is actively considering new job opportunities, signaling a seismic shift in employee expectations.
According to the “CIEL Works: GCC – Talent Trends and Insights” report, with demand for niche skills like AI, ML, and Cloud Computing creating a surge in the need for specialized talent, organizations are facing competition to attract and retain top professionals, making it increasingly difficult for GCCs to hold on to their best talent.
The talent war is especially fierce among tech-forward enterprises where deep digital expertise is non-negotiable, and professionals with such skills often have multiple opportunities, leading to high mobility and mounting retention challenges.
The study further reveals that 55 per cent of product development professionals and 45 per cent of IT professionals are currently exploring new job opportunities, while 28 per cent of executives across IT, financial services, and manufacturing have already changed jobs in the past year.
This is mostly seen among younger professionals where, early-career professionals (0–5 years) show the highest mobility at 47.6 per cent, driven by the pursuit of diverse experiences and rapid growth, followed by mid-level professionals (6–15 years) exhibiting a 42.9 per cent turnover, motivated by aspirations for leadership and greater responsibility, while senior executives (over 16 years) demonstrate the lowest mobility at 9.4 per cent, valuing stability and long-term impact.
Aditya Narayan Mishra, Managing Director & CEO of CIEL HR, said, “Over time, GCCs have transformed from cost-efficiency centres into strategic engines for their respective parent entities, and at the same time, they drive economic growth, job creation, and regional development for India. . However, rising attrition and talent mobility demand a decisive shift from transactional approaches to holistic employee engagement. Today’s workforce seeks more than pay, they want career progression, flexibility, inclusivity, and purpose. To stay ahead, GCCs must invest deeply in career development, strengthen employer branding, and build workplace cultures that foster trust, growth, and belonging. ”
The study revelead that GCCs are also offering significantly higher compensation, ranging from 12 per cent to 20 per cent above traditional IT services, especially in high-demand domains such as generative AI, data analytics, cybersecurity, and cloud.
(With inputs from bl intern Nethra Sailesh)
Published on June 6, 2025
