In the past, being a civil servant was once considered a coveted “iron rice bowl” by many. However, facing multiple impacts such as downsizing, layoffs, and salary reductions, more and more people are now choosing to resign without having secured another job. What reasons lead them to give up stability? And how do they feel after leaving?
Individuals within the Chinese Communist Party system and civil servants in general often complain about the normalization of overtime work, low salary increases, and the increasing difficulty of career advancement. Young people are trapped in a situation of “getting in but unable to get out”, where the disparity between idealism and reality becomes overwhelmingly heavy, leading to a sense of oppression.
Li Ying from Shenyang, Liaoning Province, told Epoch Times that some of his university classmates who became civil servants have not received their salaries for several months, finding themselves in a dilemma.
After graduating from university, Bai Xue (pseudonym) became a township civil servant. After working for 5 years, she recently chose to resign without having found another job lined up. Resigning without another job lined up is what is known as “naked resignation”, disregarding future prospects.
Bai Xue stated that she decided to leave because weekends turned into normal workdays with no rest time. She was required to be on call upon receiving messages or calls from superiors, having worked continuously for over 100 days on three separate occasions in a year. Despite this, her annual income was just over 40,000 yuan, with only around 3,000 yuan per month. The high level of formality within the system led her to develop tendencies toward depression, both mentally and emotionally.
“I was under such intense pressure at that time. I felt mentally exhausted and had no time of my own,” Bai Xue said. As units with similar demanding workloads are becoming increasingly common, a significant number of people within the system are considering leaving.
Civil servant Xiao Yan expressed her weariness towards the system’s lazy atmosphere, inflexible mechanisms, and complex interpersonal relationships.
“Once you enter the civil service system, it becomes a regretful and tasteless experience. You start feeling more and more like a fool. There are hardly any tangible results achieved,” she said, contemplating resigning to explore other opportunities.
Candidates for public service positions on the Chinese mainland undergo strict physical examinations before employment. Even if they pass written and oral exams, many are eliminated due to failing the physical examination.
Many civil servants start their careers in good health, but after a few years, their health starts deteriorating, often leading to issues like insomnia, depression, and other psychological disorders.
Before resigning, civil servant Li Chen (pseudonym) worked in a prestigious unit and was well-regarded within the organization. He recalled a situation where a colleague was receiving intravenous treatment in the hospital, but was still asked by the leadership to bring back medication and continue working on reports. Numerous colleagues had developed symptoms of depression, and the leadership kept antidepressants in their drawers.
Li Chen mentioned that five or six colleagues from the unit had passed away, including a young man in his thirties who had not yet gotten married, but tragically committed suicide due to depression. Concerned about his own future, Li Chen questioned whether he could survive until retirement while feeling limited and helpless in his current role. Consequently, he resigned and pursued a career in self-media, focusing on what he enjoys.
“I have absolutely no regrets about resigning. Even if you ask me to go back to my former workplace, I wouldn’t. I think they are not living as comfortably as I am now,” Li Chen remarked.
At the same time, the enthusiasm for applying for civil service positions in China remains high. In 2025, the number of applicants increased by nearly 400,000 compared to 2024, reaching a historical peak. Out of 3.41 million qualified applicants, 39,700 were planned to be recruited, indicating an average of approximately 86 applicants competing for one position. While some are eager to get in, others are leaving through naked resignations. Yet, those who have secured positions find it challenging to resign.
Wang Qi, who recently resigned, is currently attempting to start his own business. He mentioned that many people desire to resign due to the numerous restrictions within the system, such as limited internet access, isolation from external information, and being trapped within a closed and distorted mindset. Resigning is considered a disgrace, so it requires significant courage to make such a decision.
“At that time, leaving was seen as a disgrace. Whoever leaves first is deemed to have brought shame upon themselves. It’s almost like they’ve been conditioned to think this way,” Wang Qi expressed.