China’s Civil Service Exam Approvals Fall as Screening Tightens

The number of applicants cleared to take China’s national civil service exam fell for the first time in seven years, a decline that appears to reflect tighter screening rather than weaker demand for government jobs.

About 3.45 million people passed qualification reviews for the 2027 exam, down 7.2% from 3.718 million a year earlier, the National Civil Service Administration said Monday. The government plans to hire 35,700 civil servants, roughly 2,400 fewer than last year, leaving an average of 97 approved applicants per opening.