With a growing focus on generative AI, Capgemini expands its skilling initiatives and hiring reach across tier-2 cities in India
Capgemini, the global consulting and technology services firm, has announced its plan to hire up to 45,000 professionals in India in 2025, marking a significant step toward building an AI-first workforce. As AI adoption continues to reshape industries globally, the company’s hiring strategy aims to strengthen its delivery capabilities and upskill talent to meet the rising demand for next-generation digital services.
The announcement was confirmed by Capgemini Global CEO Aiman Ezzat, who underscored India’s pivotal role in the company’s global operations. With over 185,000 employees currently based in India—more than half of its global workforce—Capgemini continues to rely on the region as a hub for innovation, AI development, and digital transformation delivery.
Investing in AI Skills at Scale
As part of this large-scale hiring plan, Capgemini will focus on talent trained in AI, data science, full-stack development, cloud, cybersecurity, and automation technologies. According to Ezzat, the company will invest significantly in AI-focused training and reskilling programs, both for new hires and existing employees.
Capgemini has already launched internal programs such as AI Launchpad and Next-Gen Talent Accelerator, designed to prepare its workforce for enterprise-grade AI projects. The initiative is part of a broader transformation to integrate AI and automation across all verticals—from financial services and healthcare to manufacturing and retail.
“India continues to be the backbone of our operations. With the speed at which generative AI is evolving, we must ensure that our people are future-ready,” said Ashwin Yardi, CEO of Capgemini India, in a statement to media.
Scaling Through Inclusion and Tier-2 Expansion
A notable aspect of Capgemini’s 2025 hiring strategy is its focus on inclusion and tier-2 city outreach. The company aims to broaden its talent pipeline by recruiting from cities such as Bhubaneswar, Coimbatore, Ahmedabad, and Indore—beyond the traditional metro-based hiring hubs of Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune.
The firm is also expected to prioritise early-career hiring, onboarding graduates from engineering colleges, business schools, and data-focused programs. The roles being offered will include AI engineers, cloud architects, DevOps professionals, UI/UX designers, cybersecurity analysts, and digital consultants. Many of these roles will offer hybrid or flexible working models, in line with post-pandemic workplace trends.
Capgemini’s emphasis on regional talent aims to not only expand its delivery base but also contribute to India’s skilling and employment ecosystem, particularly in high-demand domains like AI and automation.
A Response to Rising Enterprise AI Demand
The firm’s decision comes at a time when AI is reshaping enterprise expectations. Capgemini’s recent global research found that nearly 69% of organisations expect AI to be embedded in all core business processes within the next three years.
This has translated into a surge in demand for professionals with cross-functional AI expertise—people who can design, build, and manage responsible AI workflows. Capgemini’s talent transformation plan seeks to align closely with this evolving need, offering scalable, AI-powered services to clients globally.
“We are no longer looking for just coders or testers. We need AI thinkers, data translators, prompt engineers, and product strategists,” said a Capgemini talent manager during an industry webinar.
Upskilling as a Strategic Pillar
Capgemini’s skilling and development programs go beyond technical certifications. The company is working closely with ecosystem partners, edtech platforms, and universities to offer hands-on learning in AI ethics, generative AI model design, data governance, and agile transformation.
The company is also reportedly encouraging interdisciplinary skills, helping tech professionals acquire competencies in business strategy, customer experience, and digital innovation to complement their technical roles.
This blended model of technical upskilling and business awareness is likely to play a key role in enabling responsible and scalable AI integration across industries.
Industry Implications
Capgemini’s hiring announcement is seen as a positive indicator for the IT services sector, which has experienced a cautious approach to recruitment post-pandemic. As companies resume aggressive growth fueled by digital transformation, talent with AI fluency is emerging as a key differentiator.
Industry analysts suggest that such large-scale hiring, especially with a focus on AI, signals growing enterprise confidence in the long-term relevance of generative AI, automation, and cloud-native architecture.