I found this table quite interesting, in that Banking while on the higher end of staff costs, is not the highest, with manufacturing and insurance beating us out.
Human Resources Function Operating Expense per Employee, by Industry
Industry Median Nondurable goods manufacturing $1,523 Durable goods manufacturing 1,500 Insurance 1,413 Banking and finance 1,341 Utilities and energy 1,251 Services 1,105 Retail and wholesale trade 948 Health care 754 Source: Watson Wyatt Data Services
(The Controller’s Report [IOMA], February 2006, pp. 8-9)
Source: CMC Training
Bankwatch 
I assume the hire costs for the manufacturing industires are due to collective agreements with unions. Banks have slowly been reducing their costs by unloading more of the benefit costs on to staff.