考公热
What Does 考公热 Mean?
When millions of Chinese Gen-Zers decided that the dream job isn't a startup or a tech giant — it's a government desk. Emerging around 2022, '考公热' (civil service exam fever) describes the explosive surge in young people cramming for the notoriously brutal national civil service exam, chasing the legendary 'iron rice bowl' of job security, steady pay, and social status. Think of it as the Chinese version of 'I just want something stable,' dialed up to a national obsession.
Origin Story
The civil service exam (公务员考试, 国考) attracted record numbers of applicants as private sector uncertainty grew. In 2022, 2 million people competed for 30,000 positions. Young people who once chased tech startup dreams now competed for stable government jobs. The reversal reflected deep economic anxiety.
Cultural Context
After years of brutal tech-sector layoffs, regulatory crackdowns on private industry, and pandemic-era economic uncertainty, China's youth unemployment hit record highs around 2022. The civil service exam (国考) suddenly looked like the ultimate safe harbor — stable salary, benefits, and prestige. Applications skyrocketed, with over 2 million people competing for roughly 30,000 posts in 2022 alone, making it one of the world's most competitive exams. The term originated and spread primarily on Zhihu.
Similar Expressions in English
Like the concept of 'flight to safety' in investing but applied to careers. Mirrors how economic uncertainty in many countries increases interest in government and public sector jobs.
How Is It Used?
Chinese Explanation (中文解释)
指年轻人竞相报考公务员的社会热潮，折射出就业压力与对"铁饭碗"的渴望。