Record number of hopefuls sit annual civil service exam (2)

They are competing for around 20,800 positions in more than 140 State-level government agencies and their affiliated public institutions and local branches.

The number of qualified applicants and number of people who took the exam reached a new high in 2009 before dropping in the following two years. This year's numbers showed a rebound in interest.

High employment pressure, fierce competition for jobs and the chance of a stable working life are the main reasons behind the demand for government positions, said an article released by the administration on Sunday.

Next year China will have about 7 million new college graduates, up from this year's 6.8 million, making competition in the job market even tougher, the article from the administration said, citing unnamed officials in charge of the exam.

However, the administration said that some positions, particularly those in remote and poor areas, have failed to attract applicants.

"We hope our applicants can devote themselves to working in West China, in remote and less-developed regions, and in areas that the country needs them most," the article said.

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