Emphasis on Job Security Amid Economic Recession
Significant Increase in Civil Service Exam Applicants
"Reflects Youths' Pressure Regarding Employment"
Due to the economic downturn and job insecurity, the popularity of civil servants in China has risen, leading to a significant increase in the number of applicants for the national civil service exam, known as the 'Guokao' (國考).
On the 29th, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that the Guokao, which closed applications on the 24th (local time), offered more than 39,700 positions. Among these, the most popular sector was the Vocational Education Association's recruitment for new employees, which attracted as many as 10,665 applicants. The exam will be held on November 30 and December 1, with results announced in January next year, followed by interviews.
A total of 3.2 million people registered for this Guokao and passed the initial screening. In China, candidates must first pass a qualification review before being allowed to take the Guokao. Currently, similar to South Korea, civil servant positions are highly popular among young people due to their stability. The number of Guokao applicants has reportedly more than doubled compared to ten years ago.
Zhu Zaohui, a researcher at the Chinese government's think tank, the Academy of Educational Sciences, explained, "This trend reflects the common pressure young people face regarding employment amid a difficult economy," adding, "Considering the scarce job opportunities in private companies, fierce competition is expected."
However, there are opinions that efforts to provide opportunities to young people are not a fundamental solution. SCMP cited an expert who said, "The key to job creation lies in promoting economic growth, opening up society, and improving market vitality."
Meanwhile, after youth unemployment in China hit a record high of 21.3% in June last year, the method of measuring youth unemployment was changed. High school and university students were completely excluded from the unemployment survey. After adopting the new method, the youth unemployment rate dropped to the 13% range. However, youth unemployment has recently surged. It jumped sharply from 13.2% in June to 17.1% in July, and rose again to 18.8% in August. The youth unemployment rate for September, announced in October, is 17.6%.
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