Due to the impact of low birth rates and changing career perspectives among the youth, the number of applicants for public sector banks has been decreasing year by year. Once regarded as an 'iron rice bowl', these banks have seen a continuous drop in both application and recruitment rates in recent years.

According to bank executives, especially since state-owned banks' salaries and benefits do not match those of private and semi-public banks, recruitment rates have markedly declined. For instance, Taiwan Bank noted a drop in applicants from over 5,600 in 2023 to over 3,600 in 2024, with an anticipated first round of applicants in 2025 falling below 2,000, registering only 1,927. Recruitment rates for new hires were already below 80% by March 2025.

Similarly, Land Bank's recruitment rate for regular financial personnel in 2024 was only about 70%, down from 75-80% in previous years. Compared to other state-operated enterprises, state-owned banks face intense competition in recruitment, as they overlap significantly with private banks but lack the flexible employee benefit structures that make recruitment more attractive.

In response to declining application numbers due to low birth rates, public sector banks are actively recruiting talent, particularly those with expertise in both finance and technology. Taiwan Bank plans to hold another recruitment drive in the second half of this year, aiming to recruit about 220 to 250 professionals across various fields.