In recent days, the registration for the National Civil Service Examination in mainland China, also known as the “国考,” has come to a close. According to statistics, the number of applicants this year is over 3.4 million, an increase of over 340,000 from the previous year. Some positions received only one application, with 16,702 individuals applying, while there were also 163 positions that had zero applications. Against the backdrop of China’s economic downturn and financial stress in various regions, the question arises: why has the number of applicants for the “国考” increased again this year? A former Chinese Communist government employee revealed that there are numerous “hidden benefits” for civil servants in China.
According to statistics from the official registration website for Chinese civil service exams, “Zhonggong Jiaoyu,” as of 5:30 PM Beijing time on October 24, the total number of applicants for the 2025 National Civil Service Examination has reached 3,258,274 people, an increase of over 340,000 compared to the same period last year, with an expected total of over 3.4 million applicants by the end of the review process.
Du Wen, who previously worked in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region government department, believes that working as a civil servant has become a coveted profession because of the Chinese tradition of “learning for a government position.” He told Radio Free Asia, “Throughout history, the fundamental motivation for studying and excelling has been to become an official, and the prerequisite for that is to take the civil service exam.”
Despite reports of economic downturns and salary delays for civil servants in recent years, Du Wen stated that the benefits for mainland Chinese civil servants are substantial, ranging from housing and medical insurance to retirement benefits, holiday bonuses, and even sponsored travel expenses. He noted, “Departments with different levels of power offer varying benefits, with those managing finances or holding authority receiving better treatment, albeit in direct or indirect ways.”
Du Wen cited an example, saying, “For instance, the Legal Affairs Office is a relatively poor department without much substantive power. However, I later learned that any legal research or regulation requires legislative investigation, which involves traveling nationwide or even globally on official funding.”
From 2020 to 2025, the number of personnel recruited through the “国考” was approximately: 24,100, 25,700, 31,200, 37,100, 39,600, and 39,700, respectively.
Liu Youzhen, the Chief Researcher at Huatu Education, a listed company, told mainland media outlet “Jiemian” that the scale of recruitment for the “国考” is expected to remain around 39,500 annually.
Du Wen noted that despite financial difficulties, many local governments are still tasked with addressing employment pressures. He stated, “For example, in recent years, there was the one-size-fits-all policy for department-level cadres. Originally set to retire at 60, now they can go home at 50, known as early departure. This has led to a situation where one person leaves their position early, but the position remains, resulting in additional salary payments without a change in positions.”
One standout position in the 2025 National Civil Service Examination was the “superstar” position offered by the Chinese Vocational Education Association’s liaison department. Despite only recruiting one individual, 16,702 people applied for the role. The main responsibilities include planning, coordinating, and implementing foreign affairs activities, as well as formulating annual foreign affairs work plans for the unit, accompanying overseas delegations, hosting visiting foreign institutions, and more. This position is open to applicants from all over the country.
The regions with the highest popularity among 2025 “国考” applicants are Beijing and Guangdong, with over 250,000 applicants, but there were also 163 positions with zero applications. These positions generally require higher qualifications, such as 110 positions requiring experience in grassroots projects, including roles such as university student village officials, “Three Supports and One Assistance” personnel, special post teachers, university student voluntary service in the western regions, or five years of military service, as well as affiliation with the Communist Party or Communist Youth League.
The trend of a significant number of bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral graduates applying for grassroots civil service positions is another widely discussed topic.
Du Wen pointed out that the issue of talent wastage among civil servants has been severe. He recalled that during his government service, the person answering the phones in the office was a graduate of Nankai University. He said, “After 2000, anyone recruited to the various ministries was already a doctorate. They certainly couldn’t apply their knowledge in practice, which is considered a waste; but on the other hand, once you become an official, that’s the goal of Chinese education; from another perspective, if you are a master’s or doctorate degree holder, becoming a grassroots civil servant makes it easy for you to stand out.”
In the 2024 National Civil Service Examination, one notable case was a doctoral graduate in applied physics from Stanford University who passed the exam and became a grassroots civil servant in Xiaoxian County, Suzhou City, Anhui Province. He was the only doctoral degree holder among the over 400 civil servants recruited by Suzhou in 2024. This doctoral graduate has begun a probationary period and will be formally employed after completing the one-year trial period.