Global companies increasingly view India as talent access strategy, not cost reduction. The result can be $467 billion economic impact by decade’s end.
What’s happening: India’s offshoring industry is projected to reach $467 billion USD by 2030, according to Robert Walters research, representing a 76% increase from today’s $265 billion contribution and creating more than 2.3 million skilled jobs.
Why this matters: This growth reflects a fundamental shift from cost-focused offshoring to talent access strategy, positioning India as a critical hub for business-critical operations and high-value professional services in the global economy.
India’s offshoring industry stands at the threshold of unprecedented expansion, with new research forecasting growth that will fundamentally reshape both the sector and the nation’s economic landscape.
The projection comes from global talent solutions partner Robert Walters, whose Market Intelligence team predicts offshoring will grow from 6.78% to 8.72% of India’s GDP by 2030.
Beyond cost reduction
The transformation represents a significant evolution in global offshoring strategy. Where once companies focused primarily on cost savings and volume, today’s approach centres on building capability, quality, and resilience through skilled international workforces.
“To put the $467bn figure into perspective, that’s equivalent to more than twice India’s entire national healthcare budget,” explains Phill Brown, Head of Market Intelligence at Robert Walters. “India’s offshoring sector is entering a new phase of maturity.”
This growth highlights how offshoring has become deeply embedded in India’s economic architecture, with long-term implications for job creation, skills development, and export-led growth.
Skills-based demand
The most in-demand skills driving this expansion include software development, Java, and SQL, underscoring rising global demand for advanced technical capability rather than basic service provision.
David Barr, CEO – Outsourcing at Robert Walters, notes the strategic shift: “More companies are viewing offshoring not as a cost-cutting tactic but as a talent access strategy. In India, they’re finding a deep pool of skilled professionals who can take on business-critical work.”
Companies are increasingly integrating offshore teams into core operations, building capability in areas requiring strong technical expertise, cross-border collaboration, and long-term talent planning.
Established foundations
Key factors driving the projected growth include India’s established reputation for delivering global services, robust digital infrastructure, and steady pipeline of STEM graduates. This foundation enables the country to handle increasingly complex offshore functions, particularly in technical and knowledge-based domains.
The trend aligns with broader global workforce evolution, where companies decentralise high-value operations to locations with strong talent pools and supportive business environments.
For Australian businesses, this development offers significant opportunities. Recent research shows Australian SMEs are increasingly eyeing overseas talent amid domestic skills shortages, while exchange programs foster collaboration between Indian and Australian female tech talent.
Economic implications
The forecast suggests India will transition from a service provider to a critical partner in global business operations. Rather than simply handling outsourced functions, Indian teams are becoming integral to companies’ strategic capabilities.
This evolution from transactional services to strategic partnership represents a maturation of the offshoring model, with implications extending beyond India’s borders to reshape how global businesses approach talent acquisition and operational design.
Future landscape
As businesses re-evaluate global workforce strategies following recent disruptions, India’s combination of established infrastructure and breadth of expertise across knowledge-based services positions it uniquely for continued growth.
The Robert Walters research forms part of broader market intelligence on offshoring and global talent trends, with additional insights available in the firm’s new offshoring guide examining talent strategies, recruitment management, and operational considerations in India.
The $467 billion projection represents more than economic growth; it signals India’s transformation into a cornerstone of global business capability, where skilled professionals drive innovation and strategic value creation across international markets.
This shift from cost arbitrage to capability partnership may well define the next chapter of global business operations, with India at its centre.
