As China's job market faces significant challenges, the competition for desirable positions is intensifying. The upcoming guokao, or national civil service exam, is set to attract approximately 3.2 million applicants, with over 10,000 vying for the most sought-after role at a vocational education association. This reflects a broader trend of increasing competition, as the average number of candidates per civil service position has surged to 77, doubling since 2014. The exam is scheduled for November 30 and December 1, 2024, with results expected in January 2025. In total, there are 39,700 civil service positions available this year, a slight increase from the previous exam cycle, which had 3.03 million candidates [a0f74150].
The job market remains particularly tough for young graduates, with the unemployment rate for those aged 16-24 reaching 17.6% in September 2024. This year alone, 11.79 million graduates have entered the job market, and while the availability of positions for fresh graduates has improved from less than 50% to about 70%, the competition remains fierce. Notably, the number of vocational qualification positions has plummeted from 9% in 2014 to a mere 0.13% in 2025, indicating a shift in the types of roles that are accessible to new entrants [a0f74150].
In this context, some students are turning to military service as a strategic pathway to higher education, allowing them to bypass qualifying exams and switch majors more easily. The military service law was updated in 2021 to facilitate enlistment for university students, leading to a rise in recruits from this demographic, which increased from 50% in 2017 to 80% in 2022. This trend is partly driven by the challenging job market, where youth unemployment reached 14.55% in early 2024, peaking at 17.3% in July. Many students are struggling to find suitable employment, prompting some to consider military service as a viable option. However, students like Chen and Zhou report difficulties in adapting academically after their military service. Experts suggest that improving job market conditions could reduce the appeal of military enlistment as a stepping stone to education [1d909ffe].
Additionally, there is a growing preference among university students for science and engineering majors, driven by the weak job market and China's emphasis on technological self-sufficiency. At one institution, approximately 70% of graduates are choosing to study the sciences, particularly in fields like electrical engineering and computer science, which offer better employment prospects in state-owned enterprises. Despite these choices, the current employment landscape remains challenging, with many graduates struggling to secure jobs in their fields [f421d3cc].