University students looking for jobs at a trade fair in Hangzhou, China. In the 2023 application round, 7.7 million people took the civil service exam, vying for more than 200,000 government jobs at the national and provincial levels, according to a CNBC analysis of state media reports.
Shen Qilai | Corbis History | Getty Images
Number of people taking civil service exams in China hits record high this year Youth unemployment soars.
In the 2023 application round, 7.7 million people took the civil service exam, vying for more than 200,000 government jobs at the national and provincial levels, according to a CNBC analysis of state media reports.
In China, government positions are generally considered stable and prestigious. GDP growth has slowed from the rapid pace of the past few decades.
Interest in government work comes from Xi Jinping last week cemented his status as China’s leader for an unprecedented third term.
Xi sees unity under the ruling Chinese Communist Party as crucial to building the country. This means that the party has and will increase its influence in the economy, including in non-state-owned enterprises.
Learning “Xi Thought” is a growing requirement in Chinese schools.
For millions of people who want government jobs, they must take China’s civil service exam — starting with questions about Xi Jinping’s report to the government party congress Learn to think in multiple-choice questions.
Here is a sample question, from Gongkaotong, Civil service exam preparation questions for sale:
Xi Jinping’s economic thought is an important part of Xi Jinping’s thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. Regarding Xi Jinping’s economic thought, which of the following statements is correct?
① Entering a new stage of development is the historical orientation of China’s economic development
② Promoting high-quality development is a distinct theme of China’s economic development
③Adhering to the new concept of development is the guiding principle of China’s economic development
④ Persistence in opening up is the first driving force for China’s economic development
⑤ Vigorously developing the manufacturing industry and the real economy are the main focus of my country’s economic development
a. 2 items
B． 3 items
c. 4 items
D． 5 items
The written test consists of two parts: a 120-minute multiple-choice section on “Administrative Professional Competence” and a 180-minute “Application” essay section, which translates to “Building and Defending an Argument.”
The administrative test includes the following questions Report of the National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and other rules and regulations. The exam also tests language skills, data analysis, quantitative methods, ‘judgment and reasoning’ and ‘commonsense judgment’.
Young civil servants are given priority
The state has expanded national and provincial hiring by 15% to 20%, a decision “aimed at alleviating unemployment pressure, especially for college graduates,” state media reportedciting Zhu Lijia, a professor at the National School of Administration of the Communist Party of China.
In this round of testing, about two-thirds of the state-level civil service jobs were open only to fresh graduates, or those who had graduated within the past two years but could not find work, state media reported.
Who is hiring?
China’s Ministry of Public Security is the largest ministry-level recruiting agency, according to plans announced by the Ministry of Public Security National Civil Service Administration.
Here is a list of some vacancies:
1. Ministry of Public Security of China: 39 positions
2. Ministry of Foreign Affairs: 38 posts
3. General Office of the Communist Party of China: 26 entry-level positions. Provide security, medical treatment, secretarial and other work for the top leaders of the party and government.
4. National Internet Information Office: 20 positions, 12 of which are located in the Internet Security Emergency Command Center. Regulators oversee content and have the power to remove apps from app stores.
Despite CNBC’s repeated attempts to reach China’s National Civil Service Administration for comment.
Senior leaders do not need to
China’s civil service examination originated in China’s imperial examination system, which dates back to the 6th century AD.
Under that system, academics would pass several levels of examinations to gain government positions – a process that was supposed to give everyone a fair chance to move up the social hierarchy.
The country’s current examination system was adopted in 1993 and became mandatory for all low-level government officials in 2005.
However, Xi Jinping and other senior leaders do not need to take the civil service exam to get their current positions.
According to the law, only “non-leading civil servants below the senior staff level and other equivalent positions” need to take the exam, and senior leaders are not required to take the exam.
The selection of China’s president, vice president, chairman of the Central Military Commission, and other top government positions is discussed and nominated for each role by national representatives.
Xi Jinping Wins Unprecedented Third Term Go through this process Friday.
At the provincial level or below, the head of government is at most likely to face competing candidates for each role.
job security
The salaries of Chinese government officials are very low.
But they usually get a lifelong job with high social status. Preferential treatment includes holiday bonuses, better health insurance and higher pension distributions without individual contributions.
Exact pay figures remain a sensitive topic.
Broaden employment channels and help young people realize their personal value through hard work.
The latest figures reported by state media put the average annual salary of civil servants at 48,608 yuan ($6,979) in 2012. The report also showed that Xi’s annual income in 2015 was 136,620 yuan.
As a rough comparison, The per capita wage income of urban residents is 20,590 yuan According to official figures, 2022. Salaries in China vary widely by region and job type.
The number of university graduates in China has climbed to record highs over the past few years despite long-term projections of a shrinking population and workforce.
“From the perspective of employment, there is a certain pressure,” Premier Li Qiang said at his first news conference in the role on Monday, according to CNBC’s Chinese translation.
“We will broaden employment channels and help young people realize their personal value through hard work.”