China’s upcoming national public service exam has attracted about 3.2 million applicants, with more than 10,000 people vying for the hottest position amid an intensifying pursuit of job stability in a gloomy job market, according to official figures.
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In total, more than 39,700 positions at central government agencies, and at institutions directly attached to them, are up for grabs through the fiercely contested annual event, known as the guokao in Mandarin.
In recent years, a veritable guokao craze has arisen as more fresh university graduates take a chance at securing “iron rice bowl” jobs. Despite issues such as delayed salaries and reduced benefits in the public sector, civil service positions still offer relatively stable perks compared with the private sector.
Just a few hours before a 10-day application period concluded on Thursday, the most hotly sought-after position – seeking an entry-level staff member at a vocational education association – had 10,665 applicants, according to education firm Huatu Education, which sources data from the official application platform.
The exam will take place on November 30 and December 1. Results are expected to be released in January, and interviews will occur later.
It’s obviously a fiercely competitive option, considering the scarce opportunities in the private sector
The total number of approved candidates for the exam will not be available until this weekend, but as of Thursday afternoon, 2.74 million candidates had been approved. For the last exam, 3.03 million candidates passed the initial reviews for sitting the exam, with an average of 77 candidates competing for each position.
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