Over the past two decades, India has emerged as a hub for global semiconductor design, attracting leading companies to establish design R&D innovation centers within the country. This growth can be attributed to India’s exceptional semiconductor design talent, which accounts for a remarkable 20% of the world's semiconductor design engineers, and the country's innovative ecosystem, which fosters a high volume of design patents and IPR registrations.
Careernet, India’s leading talent solutions provider, released a report on the talent demand in semiconductor design GCCs in India. It reveals semiconductor design GCCs (Global Capability Centres) account for approximately 4% of India's total GCCs, with a growth rate of approximately 7% over the last two decades.
India's semiconductor design GCC ecosystem boasts 180+ organisations, with 70 large, mid-size, and startup players employing 1.1 lakh professionals as of H1 2024. The ecosystem is rapidly growing due to its talent pool and government initiatives like the India Semiconductor Mission.
Careernet’s report focuses on 70 large, midsized, and startup companies in the semiconductor design GCC ecosystem in India and dives deep into the active job roles with top 50 of the semiconductor Design GCCs in Q1 FY 2025. The report reveals these organisations witnessed a 7% decline in open job positions in Q2 of FY 2025 compared to Q1, driven by the global macroeconomic challenges and the cautious hiring of large multinational corporations. Yet, the startup ecosystem in India remains optimistic with smaller organisations continuing to increase their hiring, betting on India's growing demand for cutting-edge technologies like quantum computing, nanotechnology, and advanced manufacturing.
There is substantial demand for specialised roles in Design, Manufacturing, and R&D, which will likely be key drivers as the sector looks toward recovery and future growth. The top job roles in demand include design engineers, verification engineers, system architects in design, process and equipment engineers, and technicians in manufacturing, as well as specialists in materials science, quantum computing, and nanotechnology within R&D.
The Americas remain the largest driver of the GCC footprint in India with 69% of the semiconductor MNCs studied headquartered in the region reflecting the region's dominant role in driving India's semiconductor sector through investments, collaborations, and expansions in design, R&D, and manufacturing.
Bengaluru emerges as the primary hub for semiconductor design GCCs in India, commanding a substantial 57% of GCC units and housing 61% of the total GCC talent, solidifying its reputation as India's Silicon Valley. Following behind is Hyderabad, which accounts for 17% of the GCC units and 21% of the talent, making it the second-largest hub for semiconductor design GCCs in the country. Pune contributes 9% of the units with 5% of the talent, while Chennai and Delhi NCR each holds 7% of the units, with 5% and 7% of talent respectively. Though smaller in share, these cities play an important role in diversifying and supporting India's semiconductor design market. Tier-II cities contribute just 3% of GCC units and 1% of the talent, indicating that the semiconductor GCC ecosystem is still predominantly focused on the major metropolitan areas.
The data reveals that 41% of semiconductor design GCCs in India operate from a single office location, while 59% have expanded to multiple locations, signalling a growing trend of geographic diversification. Within this, about 21% of the GCCs are present in at least two locations, and 38% operate in three or more, showcasing the industry's gradual expansion across various regions.
In terms of employee strength, nearly half (47%) of the GCCs employ fewer than 1,000 people, classifying them as small-scale operations. A further 44% fall into the mid-sized category, employing between 1,000 to 5,000 individuals, while only 9% of the GCCs are classified as large, with more than 5,000 employees.
Commenting on the report, Mr. Neelabh Shukla, Chief Business Officer, Careernet, said, “The semiconductor design sector is set for remarkable expansion, driven by increasing demand across smartphones, electric vehicles, and other tech innovations. India's design talent pool is anticipated to grow substantially, with numerous job opportunities projected to emerge over the next five years. The overall dip in demand in Q2 indicates a temporary slowdown, however, there is the continued need for skilled talent in the sector. Government policies, such as the India Semiconductor Mission and Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, are further accelerating growth, attracting investments, and ensuring that the country's semiconductor design industry is prepared for global challenges.”
While the semiconductor industry in India is expanding its footprint, it continues to be concentrated in high-skill, specialised workforces rather than large-scale employment centres. The trend towards multi-location operations reflects the opportunity for further growth, both in terms of geographic spread and workforce size.
