The banking industry will need to hire 9-11 lakh employees over the next five years, according to a report by Boston Consulting Group.

The report, which includes a survey of about 14,000 customers, 50,000 bank employees and analysis of data obtained from about 35 banks in the country, said about half of the hiring will be due to attrition.

The banking sector is expected to grow at approximately 20 per cent over the next decade and will need major induction of talent, a significant part of which is to replace vacancies arising due to retirements in public sector banks. At the current rate of attrition, the industry will need to hire over four lakh more people.

“We will hire around 6,000 this year,” said Pratip Chaudhari, Chairman, State Bank of India.

Retirements in public sector banks will continue to increase and peak by 2017. In total, 1.8 lakh employees will retire and will be replaced. Depending upon the productivity growth, the industry will need 2.5-4.5 lakh additional people for growth in business.

Saurabh Tripathi, Partner & Director, BCG, said: “Public sector banks will have to double the current intake of employees to meet the talent needs of future.”

>beena.parmar@thehindu.co.in