Despite a recruitment overdrive that saw government-run banks adding around 15,000 people last year, over 22,000 posts are yet to be filled, reports Economic Times.
As per the Finance Ministry's data, around 11 public sector banks including Punjab National Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Bank of Baroda and Central Bank of India are currently facing shortage of staff. "Banks have full operational and managerial autonomy regarding manpower planning and recruitment. The filling up of the vacancies is an ongoing exercise and banks make their recruitment as per their own needs," a Finance Ministry official told Economic Times.
As per the Finance Ministry's data, around 11 public sector banks including Punjab National Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Bank of Baroda and Central Bank of India are currently facing shortage of staff. "Banks have full operational and managerial autonomy regarding manpower planning and recruitment. The filling up of the vacancies is an ongoing exercise and banks make their recruitment as per their own needs," a Finance Ministry official told Economic Times.
However, though banks are facing an acute manpower shortage created by large scale superannuation, they are not willing to expedite the selection process. "There is a need for specialist officers, clerks and probationary officers. We'll be soon hiring around 1,250 clerks, but you need to get eligible candidates for other posts," said a senior official with PNB.
Banks are also looking to hire employees in sectors such as agriculture, economist, Planning, Research, Legal, Security and Information Technology. But, the recruitment process in almost all public sector bank takes around six months.
Oriental Bank of Commerce, which has already recruited 1,290 people this year, plans to add another 1,600 this year. "We are looking to hire around 400 specialist officers. But you need to get the right candidates," said a senior official with the bank. Other banks are also firming up their recruitment drive and have already initiated the process. According to the Director of Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), M Balachandran, the staff shortage may far exceed 22,000. "The banks have more stringent in their recruitment process, but given the expansion that banks are looking for they'll far exceed these numbers," he said.
