What happened to the wave of bank layoffs? How can people survive next?

Everyone knows that the income of the banking industry has always been high, and it is also an enviable industry, so many people yearn for the job of the bank. However, in recent years, the days of banking are actually not big. Both domestic banks and other banks around the world are caught in a wave of layoffs.

According to Bloomberg statistics, in 20 19, more than 50 banks around the world announced layoffs, with a total of nearly 80,000 layoffs, a record high since 20 15. Among them, Europe is the hardest hit area for layoffs. In 20 19, European banks plan to lay off 63,500 employees, accounting for 82% of the total layoffs in the world. Among them, the banks that plan to lay off the most employees are Deutsche Bank18,000 employees, Italy Yuxin Bank 8,000 employees and Spain Santander Bank 5,400 employees.

However, Bloomberg's statistics can't truly reflect the global layoffs. In fact, in 20 19, the number of layoffs in major banks around the world was much higher than 78,000. For example, the number of layoffs in Asia-Pacific announced by Bloomberg is only 5 13, but in fact, the number of layoffs in many banks in Asia has exceeded 5 13, but many banks have not officially announced it, so there is no statistical data.

For example, the financial report data of major banks in the first half of 20 19 showed that among the 33 A-share listed banks, 2 1 bank laid off employees to varying degrees, with more than 38,000 chief executives.

In fact, since the global financial crisis in 2008, major banks around the world have been laying off employees, reaching a small peak in 20 15, and many banks have accelerated their layoffs since then. From 20 15 to 20 19, the cumulative number of layoffs in major banks around the world has exceeded 420,000.

First, the global economic development is not ideal.

Since the financial crisis in 2008, the economies of many countries in the world have fallen into slow development, and many countries have not recovered yet. In the past two years, the world has experienced a round of economic slowdown, especially in the case of increasing global trade disputes, and the overall economic environment is not ideal.

The economy is the foundation of the financial industry's survival, the economic development is not ideal, and the banking industry can't live a good life. Therefore, in the case of slowing economic development, the profitability of banks has declined, and correspondingly, profitability can only be improved by firing employees.

Second, the impact of negative interest rates.

Faced with weak economic growth and slow economic development, many western countries have lowered interest rates in succession, trying to stimulate social investment through low interest rates, so as to achieve the purpose of revitalizing the economy. After the implementation of negative interest rates, banks are most affected.

Banks earn spreads by absorbing deposits and issuing loans. If the interest rate is reduced or even negative, then the profit margin of the bank is very small. At present, many countries in Europe implement negative interest rates, including Japan in Asia.

Especially since the Federal Reserve cut interest rates several times in a row from 2065438 to August 2009, the world's major central banks have also cut interest rates. At present, the loan interest rate of many banks is already very low, and the profit margin of banks has been severely compressed, and even losses have occurred. So these banks can only save costs by laying off employees.

Third, the progress of banking technology.

In this round of global bank layoffs, not only those countries with slow economic development have laid off a large number of employees, but also some emerging economies have laid off employees. For example, at present, the economic development in China is still relatively fast, with an annual economic growth rate of over 6%, and the interest rate in China is relatively high, so the profits of banks are still considerable. Some big banks are hundreds of billions a year and hundreds of millions a day.

However, even if these banks are developing well, they are constantly laying off employees. For example, in 20 18, the number of employees in the six major state-owned banks decreased one after another, among which the number of employees decreased the most, reaching13,616, and the number of employees in China Construction Bank also decreased by more than 6,600.

One of the important reasons why these profitable and well-developed banks lay off employees is the progress of banking technology.

In recent years, with the continuous progress of robot technology and Internet technology, many positions in banks can be automated. Many banks can handle business through mobile banking and online banking. Even if they go to the counter, more than 90% of the business can basically be realized through self-service terminals. So many banks don't need too much manpower now, so major banks can only save costs and improve profits by laying off employees.

Once upon a time, banking was a very popular industry. Even though many people are still yearning for this industry, with the arrival of the global banking layoffs, many bank staff began to have a sense of crisis, and no one knows when they will be laid off.

So what should the laid-off bank employees do? How to find a new job?

In fact, the wave of layoffs is not only in the banking industry, but also in other industries. Even large enterprises like Huawei have begun to announce layoffs, which shows that the current economic environment is really not ideal. However, in the face of layoffs, you don't have to worry too much. The so-called 360 line is the best. Even if you don't work in a bank, you have other jobs to choose from. After resigning from the bank, you usually have several options.

First, transfer to other banks.

Although the banking industry is generally in the trend of layoffs, some banks are still developing rapidly and their employees are increasing. For example, in the first half of 20 19, employees of Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, Bank of Ningbo Bank, Nanjing Bank, Hangzhou Bank and Chengdu Bank were all increasing.

Therefore, after being laid off by the bank, if you have the ability and customer resources, you can take refuge in other banks. This is the most direct re-employment method.

Second, go to other financial institutions.

In addition to banks, there are other types of institutions in the financial industry, such as securities companies, fund companies, guarantee companies, asset management companies, wealth management companies, p2p companies, online lending companies and credit reporting companies. These non-bank financial industries are generally interested in people who have resigned from banks.

Third, start your own business.

In reality, many people do start their own businesses after resigning from banks, and some people do a good job in starting their own businesses. If you have a certain network resources, if you have a certain entrepreneurial ability, this is a way out.

Fourth, go to other industries.

Although many industries now have some professional requirements, strictly speaking, any industry can go to work as long as you have the ability. Now many industries have some similarities. As long as you are capable and willing to work hard, you can actually get along well in other industries.

According to a data from Bloomberg, from 20 14 to 20 19, the total number of bank layoffs in the world has exceeded 425,000. In the past 20 19 years, the number of layoffs of global banks reached 77,700, but the actual number may be far more than that, because many banks have quietly laid off employees and have not disclosed their plans at all.

According to Bloomberg's report, European banks were the hardest hit by layoffs in 20 19. The "official announcement" plans to lay off 63,500 people, accounting for nearly 82% of the total number of presidents. Among them, Deutsche Bank laid off 6,543,800 employees, ranking first, followed by Yuxin Bank, Italy's largest commercial bank, laying off 8,000 employees. Bank of North America ranked second, with plans to lay off nearly 7,669 people; Latin American banks ranked third, with "official announcement" of 3,500 layoffs. In the Asia-Pacific region, the number of "officially announced" layoffs is the least, only 5 13.

In fact, in the past five years, the wave of bank layoffs has never stopped. From 20 14 to 20 15, it reached a high point, and 20 19 reached a small peak again. It can be said that the wave of bank layoffs is surging not only abroad, but also at home.

According to the annual report data released by five-star universities, we compare the data of 20 17 and 20 18, and we think that the number of employees in 20 19 will be further reduced. On the whole, in 20 17, the five major banks laid off 27,000 employees, and in 20 18, the five major banks continued to lay off 26,000 employees. 20 19 years, I believe this figure will not be less than 20,000.

What does this wave of bank layoffs mean Does it mean the coming of economic crisis? From the international situation, the main reason for the wave of layoffs is the economic slowdown; But looking back at China, it is mainly caused by technological changes and changes in the competitive environment. Let's take a look at them one by one.

1, the European economy has been depressed, which is the main reason for bank layoffs.

Europe's economic slowdown has been going on for a long time, including Germany, Britain and Italy, the locomotives of Europe's economy, which have all fallen into a situation of declining growth rate.

Since 1980, the proportion of EU GDP in the global economy has been declining, and the growth rate has been sluggish since the financial crisis. As the locomotive of the EU economy, the economic aggregates of Germany, France, Italy and Spain account for about 75% of the euro zone 19 countries. After a slight rebound of 20 18, the economic situation of 20 19 EU seems not optimistic. According to a report of the European Commission, the growth rate of GDP in the euro zone will slow down from 65,438+0.9% in 2065,438+08 to 65,438+0.2% in 2065,438+09. However, the economic growth rate of Germany, the first economy in the European Union, slowed down by more than half, from 65,438+0.4% in 2065,438+08 to 0.5%. Italy's GDP growth rate dropped sharply from 0.9% in 20 18 to 0. 1%.

The overall declining economic situation forces Europe to continue to stimulate economic growth through interest rate easing (negative interest rate), and at the same time, it further worsens the competitive environment of banks. The negative interest rate monetary policy makes it difficult for banks to transfer the deposit reserve ratio to customers, which increases the profit pressure of banks. With the decline of economic growth, the operating pressure of banks is further increased. The double attack makes banks have to reduce the performance pressure by cutting costs, and labor cost is the most direct and effective cost, which is also the most fundamental factor for Europe to become the hardest hit area for bank layoffs.

However, bank layoffs are not large-scale layoffs, but normal business behaviors based on operating conditions, rather than decisions made because of economic deterioration and corporate losses. There are essential differences between them. This is the driving factor that we need to distinguish, so for ordinary people, this will not have much impact, and the biggest impact is the bank staff.

2. The fierce competition in the domestic banking industry is an important factor in layoffs.

Looking back at the layoffs of domestic banks, compared with the international situation, it is actually less important.

According to the official website of China Banking Regulatory Commission, the list of legal persons of banking financial institutions in China (as of the end of June 20 19) 10/0, the number of legal persons of banking financial institutions in the first half of the year was 4,597. According to the previous data of China Banking Regulatory Commission, there are about 3.5 million bank employees in China, of which about 80% are tellers.

In 20 18, the number of layoffs in China banks was only tens of thousands, which was relatively small, but it was a trend. Because of the development of financial technology, domestic banks have great motivation to lay artificial intelligence counters to replace labor in the face of fierce competition. After all, other banks are also doing it. If you don't do it, your cost will be high, and you can't compete with others. At present, the smart counter business has gradually entered the outlets of large banks. After the trial operation, the demand for corresponding counter personnel will be reduced. This is a gradual transition process, but it is an irreversible trend.

Therefore, the wave of layoffs in China's banking industry is mainly caused by changes in the competitive environment, which has not had much direct impact on the broad masses of the people. On the contrary, it will enhance the customer's experience in handling business in the bank, but it will affect the work of some counter staff.

Therefore, we should look at the real reasons behind bank layoffs rationally, and we can't think that layoffs are caused by the overall economic reasons. Changes in the competitive environment of the industry and advances in science and technology may also lead to layoffs. As long as it is a normal adjustment of the industry, it will promote the development of the industry.

The above is my personal view on this issue, hoping to enlighten you.

The layoffs in the banking industry are mainly the abolition of outlets and first-line tellers. In recent years, banks also have the experience of reducing the labor cost of tellers first, such as adopting dispatch system or differentiated labor contracts to reduce the personnel cost. With the development of megatrends, banks can only further shrink their outlets and lay off employees, and may lay off more inefficient outlets in the future.

As the oldest industry, banking will always be an evergreen tree. What we see is the transformation of the banking industry and the change of business model, rather than the long-term fundamental changes of the banking industry.

The influence of wealth polarization on the retail business of banks is the main reason for the contraction of outlets, and the annual report of private banks will stir everyone's heart. According to the data released at the end of 20 18, the proportion of high-net-worth people in Beijing is the highest in China, reaching 7.4‰.

The change path of wealth in the future will be that the richer the wealth, the faster the growth, and the main source of bank savings is no longer individual retail investors. Huge bank outlets often serve individual retail investors and enterprises, and the profits of individual retail business may be lost in many outlets. This is the main driving force for banks to shrink their outlets, and cost and profit will always be the driving force for enterprises.

First of all, the emergence of various Internet financial formats has absorbed a large number of retail businesses.

Secondly, the Internet has increased various means of payment, which makes a large number of bank retail businesses unnecessary for banks to handle.

Summary: the main driving force for banks to shrink their outlets is wealth differentiation. Valuable customer funds are getting larger and more concentrated, and banks prefer big customers. The progress of science and technology makes the traditional retail business migrate to other trading platforms, and banks may reduce their retail business.

Any enterprise's layoffs are the choice after considering the cost.

In fact, bank layoffs have been discussed for the past few years.

First, ATM, online banking and mobile banking have replaced a lot of labor.

These have always been there before, but there were no layoffs because the main social forces at that time were not very good at using them. However, with the passage of time, the main social forces now are the post-80 s and post-90 s, and they can skillfully use these items, so many phenomena have only begun to appear now. In fact, we don't have many opportunities to go to the bank to handle affairs now, and there are few general bank windows.

Most of them are engaged in financial services.

Second, the financial level is not good in recent years, and the relevant employees can feel that the inspection from the upper level is becoming more and more strict.

It is said that in Shanghai, it is easy to check the ID card and work permit for the card owner by walking to work in clothes related to the financial industry.

Therefore, it is imperative for banks to lay off employees, and the profession of teller will definitely be suppressed again.

As for how to survive, if you want to stay in the banking industry, it depends on what the main business direction of the bank is at present, and it is bound to be right to develop in this direction.

No industry can do without people. It is inevitable that the able will go up and the mediocre will give way. Strengthening study and enhancing ability is the only way out.

Bank layoffs, in Zang Yunjun's view, are inevitable for social development.

Take Yunyunjun himself as an example. I haven't been to the bank for almost a few years. After the salary card is bound to Alipay and WeChat, consumers can directly scan the code to pay. Even if it is necessary to withdraw cash, ATM machines can meet their own needs.

With the popularity of the Internet and smart phones, various bank apps have sprung up, and most businesses can be handled online, such as foreign exchange, wealth management and time deposits. A smart phone can easily complete the operation without leaving home. Many bank outlets have even become redundant. Considering the cost, more and more banks have actually started to reduce the number of outlets distributed in various places. Of course, quite a few bank employees will definitely lose their jobs.

Even if we occasionally enter the bank to handle business, such as activating bank cards, opening online banking and other basic businesses, now our users can handle it directly on the machine, with high efficiency and basically no need to queue up. A bank outlet often has a small number of staff who actually need it.

In the past, banking was called the "iron rice bowl", and many people wanted to enter the banking system. But now, those once "favored children" need to face the crisis of middle-aged unemployment!

With the further development of science and technology and the further breakthrough of technical barriers, not only bank staff, factory operators, equipment maintenance workers and porters will be replaced by more and more intelligent and efficient robots. In YunYunjun's company, automation has replaced nearly 70% of manpower!

In the next 10 year, driverless cars will enter our lives, and a large number of buses, taxis, take-out and express delivery personnel will face the crisis of unemployment!

If you don't want to be replaced by machines, you need to keep learning, so that your growth rate can reach or even exceed the growth rate of machines!

Not only does he focus on his own field of study, for example, Yun Yunjun is an engineer, but also dabbles in and studies law, finance, language, AI, literature and so on. Make yourself more valuable through continuous learning, accumulation and precipitation. Even if he is unemployed, he can find other jobs with his own talents and knowledge.

In fact, it is also a better way to deal with the middle-aged crisis to have a sideline in your spare time and stick to it all the time.

A sideline can be related to the industry or to one's own interests. Although most of the income is not much at first, if you insist on taking sideline as your main business for ten or eight years and make yourself an expert in this field, you can still expect considerable returns.

Even if the main business is unemployed, you can "continue your life" by virtue of your sideline. Isn't that a good consideration?

Faced with more and more "aggressive" robots, automation and digitalization, it is foreseeable that most people will encounter unemployment and midlife crisis in the future. It is very important to keep learning, absorbing new ideas and trying new things. In order not to be eliminated by the times, we need to redouble our efforts

Middle-aged crisis and unemployment seem far away from us, but once they happen, they will become a bolt from the blue. It is better to take precautions as early as possible!