A Good scene is emerging in banks where number of clerks is decreasing and number of officers is increasing. There is a change in hiring trends of bank as ten years back, banks used to hire 38% officers, but now, banks hire officers to the extent of 52%. Most of the private sector banks now hire more officers and less clerks. During the year 2013-14, in the total staff strength of 296115, officers were 223755 around 75 % in private sector bank. In foreign banks, against total staff of 24834, officers were 23040. However, in public sector banks, position is quite different. Amongst total staff of 830250, the number of officers was 353456 only. In biggest public sector bank i.e. SBI, in the total staff of 222033, officers were 79755 (around 36 %) In private sector bank like HDFC, in the total staff of 72226, the number of officers was 67871 around 94 %. In axis bank, all are officers and no clerk.
Above facts clearly indicate the private sector banks are by & by moving towards more officers and very less clerks. In fact, technology has rendered clerical fractions redundant. Added advantage in having more officers is clerks and junior officers go on strike while senior officers cant go on strike. Similarly, clerks can demand over time while officers cannot demand such over time and generally behave in more responsible manner. Since most of the banking system is computerized, there is no need to check transaction manually as was the case 10-15 years back.
In the near future, public sector banks are going to realize the importance of keeping more officers and with this trend, their efficiency level is going to improve considerately.
Source: Above figures of staff have been taken from Business Standard Paper Dt. 17.04.2015.
BK Jain, Dean MBA
