A record number of people in China took the civil service exam this year, as unemployment among young people soared. According to CNBC analysis of state media reports, 7.7 million people took the civil service exam in the 2023 application round, vying for more than 200,000 government jobs at the national and provincial level.
Government jobs are typically regarded as stable and prestigious in China. GDP growth has slowed from its rapid pace of the past decades. The interest in government jobs comes as Xi Jinping last week cemented his position as China’s leader for an unprecedented third term. Xi sees unity under the ruling Chinese Communist Party as essential for building up the country. That’s meant the party has and is set to increase its presence in the economy, including among businesses that are not state-owned.
CNBC
