GCCs Hiking Salaries, Sops To Prevent Attrition: Talent500

As organisations embrace people-centric growth models, India’s GCCs are emerging as employers of choice, with a strong focus on career and leadership development, workplace culture, and personalised employee experiences

Global Capability Centres (GCCs) are projecting an average salary hike of 9.9 per cent, signalling continued focus on talent retention and capability building despite economic uncertainties, according to the latest report released by Talent500, India’s largest and most trusted platform by ANSR for premium GCC careers.

According to unofficial estimates, India is home to over 50 per cent of GCCs in the world with a projected growth of market size to $ 110 billion by 2030 contributing a major part to the GDP's growth.

As GCCs in India accelerate their evolution from operational back-offices to global innovation powerhouses, Talent500’s report spotlights how organisations are building resilient, people-centric workplaces that prioritise agility, personalisation, and long-term value creation. With India projected to house over 2400 GCCs and 4.5 million professionals by 2030, the survey offers a roadmap for GCCs to redefine their approach to human capital, ensuring they remain at the forefront of the global business ecosystem and attract top talent.

On declining attrition rates, the report stated that overall attrition has come down to 16.9 per cent, with voluntary attrition at a record low of 12.6per cent in 2024, reflecting greater investment in career growth, culture, and employee experience.

Referring to rise of Long-Term Incentives (LTIs), the report disclosed that to boost retention and loyalty, 71 per cent of GCCs now offer LTIs like Employee Stock Options (ESOPs), Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), and Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs), emphasising long-term wealth creation for employees.

Talent500, which released its latest report, “Increment & Compensation Trends in GCCs,” provides a comprehensive analysis of how GCCs in India are evolving their compensation strategies. Drawing on proprietary insights from ANSR’s research, the report decodes how leading enterprises are approaching increments, pay structures, and talent investments to stay competitive in a rapidly transforming talent landscape.

As organisations embrace people-centric growth models, India’s GCCs are emerging as employers of choice, with a strong focus on career and leadership development, workplace culture, and personalised employee experiences.

Key highlights of the study include organisations tht are moving beyond traditional merit-based hikes, introducing special salary adjustments for in-demand skills, market alignment, and equity improvements, future ready rewards like compensation models undergoing a transformation to offer more personalised rewards, that combines competitive pay with flexible benefits, career growth opportunities, and employee wellness programs.

On leveraging AI for smarter compensation decision, the report stated that GCCs are increasingly leveraging AI and analytics to personalize rewards, conduct real-time pay equity audits, optimize benefits, and build agile, future-ready talent strategies

Commenting on the findings of the study, Vikram Ahuja, co-founder of ANSR and CEO of 1Wrk, said "as GCCs become core to enterprise strategy, the way they think about talent is continuously evolving — adapting to new business needs, technologies, and expectations. This year’s Compensation and Benefits Survey goes beyond the numbers to explore how GCCs are rethinking their people strategies — building teams that are ready for today and prepared for what’s ahead. In a world shaped by AI, shifting expectations, and rapid change, the GCCs that succeed will be the ones that treat talent as a true strategic advantage — combining agility, purpose, and a focus on future-ready leadership.”

ANSR's analysis highlights India’s potential to become the leading global hub for GCCs, with the capacity to host over 2,400 centres by 2030. This growth is fuelled by India’s rising prominence in the global GCC landscape and its deep talent ecosystem. As competition for top talent intensifies, it is imperative for GCCs to invest in building a strong work culture and enhance their employee value proposition to attract and retain high-quality professionals.

"Based on our projections, GCCs in India could employ over 4.5 million professionals by 2030, underscoring the sector’s critical role in shaping the future of work and innovation," the report stated.

It described India as a powerhouse of GCCs drivers of growth and competitive advantage. It observed that GCCs have emerged as strategic assets for multinational corporations, with India serving as a key operational and innovation hub.

The country's distinct competitive advantages—including a highly skilled workforce, technological expertise, a thriving innovation culture, a dynamic startup ecosystem, and supportive government policies—collectively reinforce its leadership in the GCC space. The study pointed out that GDP growth is projected to moderate to 6.4 per cent, down from higher FY2024 levels, primarily due to reduced investment and slower capital formation. Inflation is showing signs of easing, with the CPI dropping to 5.2 per cent last December, although core inflation remains stable. Fiscal consolidation is underway, with a targeted fiscal deficit of 4.4 per cent of GDP by FY2026. However, potential increases in salary and pension expenses from the Eighth Pay Commission could pose challenges to this goal. Additionally, government capital expenditure has contracted, even as revenue expenditure continues to rise.

In summary, according to the report, while India’s economic fundamentals remain strong, the outlook remains cautiously optimistic, hinging on the ability to maintain robust domestic demand and ensure external stability.

The ongoing focus on fiscal discipline, investment-led growth, and infrastructure expansion continues to support long-term confidence in the country’s growth trajectory.