Written by The Banking Post
The number of employees in the country’s banking sector grew by 2.55 per cent year-on-year in June 2025, reflecting continued expansion in the key financial industry, according to the latest Bangladesh Bank data.
The total workforce across 61 banks reached 213,267 by the end of June, up by 5,301 from the same month a year earlier.
Private commercial banks remained the largest employers, accounting for nearly 68 per cent of total jobs with 144,737 staff members across 43 institutions. State-owned commercial banks employed 52,438 people, while three specialised banks together had 11,993 employees. Nine foreign banks operating in Bangladesh contributed a smaller share, with 4,099 staff members.
Despite the overall growth, the gender gap in banking employment persists. Men made up over 83 per cent of the workforce, while women accounted for just above 16 per cent, underscoring slow progress in gender diversity.
In contrast, employment in the non-bank financial institution (NBFI) sector continued to decline. Staffing at 35 finance companies dropped by 4.0 per cent to 6,362 in June 2025 — down by 272 from a year earlier — as tighter margins and consolidation efforts weighed on the industry.
Bankers attribute the increase in banking jobs to the expansion of agent banking and mobile financial services, alongside growing demand for skilled professionals in compliance, IT security, and customer service.
“While technology is transforming how banks operate, the need for skilled professionals is keeping employment growth steady,” said a senior official at a private commercial bank. He added that the planned launch of digital banks may further boost technical hiring in the coming months.
The official also noted that the recent retrenchment at an Islamic bank is yet to be reflected in the central bank’s latest figures.
