China’s slowing economy is changing how young people think about their careers. With private companies hiring less, many educated graduates are now choosing government roles for safety and stability. This shift has led to record numbers applying for civil service positions, even as competition for these jobs becomes tougher than ever, CNBC reported.
Last month, around 3.7 million people across the country applied for the annual civil service examination. Many of them were graduates from China’s top universities. However, only about 38,100 entry-level government positions will be available from next year, meaning just one out of every 100 applicants is likely to be selected.
Despite the low odds, interest in government jobs remains strong. China’s slowing economy, weak business confidence and a prolonged downturn in several industries have sharply reduced opportunities in the private sector.
Urban unemployment among people aged 16 to 24 has stayed above 17 per cent since July. By comparison, youth unemployment in the US is close to 10 per cent.
‘Iron rice bowls’ regain appeal
Government jobs in China were once known as “iron rice bowls” because of their job security, fixed working hours and steady benefits. As the economy opened up over the past two decades, young graduates increasingly preferred higher-paying roles in private companies, especially major technology firms such as Alibaba, Tencent and Huawei.
That trend is now reversing. A long economic slowdown, combined with Beijing’s regulatory clampdown on sectors such as real estate, technology and private tutoring, has triggered large-scale layoffs. China’s top 500 private companies cut more than 314,600 jobs last year, the news report said.
As job openings shrink and expectations remain high, many young people are lowering their ambitions and turning towards public sector roles.
