Seen as high-growth talent engines, India's pharma Global Capability Centres (GCCs) have hit a speed bump. A perfect storm of global uncertainties, including fluctuating U.S. tariff policies and macroeconomic headwinds, has begun to weigh on hiring momentum in the sector.
According to industry experts, the recent 90-day suspension of proposed reciprocal tariffs by the U.S. has led to a wait-and-watch approach among multinational pharma companies. This policy uncertainty, coupled with cautious discretionary spending, has resulted in a noticeable slowdown in new hiring. Analysts now estimate a 6–7% drop in net talent addition for pharma GCCs in FY25.
“Hiring has started to taper since mid-March. Clients are pulling back on large-scale initiatives and are focusing more on cost optimisation,” mentions Kapil Joshi, CEO of Quess IT Staffing.
The slowdown is evident in demand for mid-to-senior-level roles in areas such as pharmacovigilance, regulatory affairs, and data analytics. Many companies are choosing to delay or scale down their expansion plans in India until there's more clarity on the trade front and global market conditions.
India currently hosts around 100 pharma GCCs, with U.S.-based firms accounting for 11 of the top 20 and 45% of the overall headcount. These GCCs had been expanding aggressively, clocking 18% growth in FY24–25, but have now seen a clear pullback over the past 4–6 weeks, says Kedar Pathak, GCC Talent Specialist at Xpheno.
While this may look like a doom-and-gloom story, experts have pointed out that this is a temporary recalibration, not a structural shift. India’s deep talent pool, competitive costs, and growing capabilities in R&D and digital health ensure its continued appeal for global pharma majors.
What It Means for Talent Leaders
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Expect slower hiring cycles in the short term, especially for niche roles.
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Focus is shifting to upskilling and internal mobility to maximise existing talent.
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Long-term demand for tech-integrated healthcare roles remains promising.
While the current environment may feel like a lull, talent leaders would do well to prepare for the rebound. Because in the pharma GCC game, it's not about how fast you start, it is about how well you sustain the run.
