AI, data, cybersecurity lead tech hiring with 30.3% share in September quarter

AI, data and cybersecurity represented 30.3% of tech hiring demand in the July–September quarter, up from 25.8% in the preceding quarter, according to a report by staffing and workforce solutions company Quess Corp.

India’s global capability centres (GCCs) are directing a greater share of their technology recruitment towards specialists who can deploy AI, manage data and secure enterprise systems, the India GCC Tech Talent Landscape Q2 FY27 report said.

Demand for AI, data and analytics professionals grew approximately 14% quarter-on-quarter, while that for cybersecurity and risk management roles increased approximately 12%. Both categories expanded even as overall GCC tech hiring demand declined 3.5%, reflecting continued investment in specialist capabilities within more selective workforce plans.


The moderation in demand is consistent with the cyclical hiring patterns of global enterprises, where recruitment typically peaks at the beginning of the calendar year and slows towards year-end.

“India’s GCC ecosystem continues to expand, but its growth is also changing the skills companies need,” said Kapil Joshi, CEO – IT staffing at Quess Corp.

“As centres expand their responsibilities and explore new talent markets, companies will need to combine specialist hiring with reskilling and internal mobility. This will help them build the capabilities needed to support their growing role in global operations,” Joshi said.

Technology and product GCCs recorded the highest share of postings requiring AI and GenAI skills at approximately 32%. Pharma and healthcare saw a five percentage-point increase to approximately 23%, while professional services and consulting rose four percentage points to approximately 22%. Telecom and networks, manufacturing and industrial, and BFSI recorded quarter-on-quarter declines in overall tech hiring demand of approximately 24%, 9% and 8%, respectively.

The proportion of postings seeking AI and GenAI skills increased in each industry segment, showing that high-skill roles are gaining importance.

Demand within advanced skill clusters also points towards the practical deployment of AI. Applied data science and model operations grew approximately 19%, while cloud security and AI-infused architecture increased approximately 21%. These roles support the deployment, monitoring and management of AI models, alongside secure cloud and enterprise infrastructure.

The report estimates a 38–42% supply gap in AI, data and analytics and a 30–35% gap in cybersecurity and risk management.

It identified pathways to address these shortages through transitions from adjacent roles, including data scientists moving into model operations, data engineers into applied AI, and cybersecurity analysts into cloud security. Structured reskilling and internal career pathways can complement external recruitment as AI requirements deepen across sectors.

Tier-1 cities nevertheless account for approximately 87–88% of advanced-skill hiring and 84–86% of total GCC hiring demand in the country, the report said. But smaller cities are growing faster.

Coimbatore stood out with approximately 30% quarter-on-quarter growth in GCC tech hiring demand, helping drive overall tier-2 growth of approximately 13%, compared with 8–10% in Q1 FY27.

Among tier-1 cities, Pune was the only market to grow, recording a modest 2% increase, while all other metros saw demand decline. Hyderabad and Mumbai recorded the steepest declines among metros, at approximately 10% and 9%, respectively.

India’s GCC workforce is projected to reach 2.7–2.8 million by 2030.